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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be furious that my long-term disabled sister has just been told she will have to pay the bedroom tax?

155 replies

ElectricSheep · 17/04/2013 22:15

She has been battling with a very severe disability all of her life. Everyday is a struggle for her.

Twenty years ago after a long stay in hospital she was offered a 2 bedroom council flat so that she could be near us - her family - so that we can care for her and support her.

She knows she can never work again. Her consultant advised against it and it is just not a practical option.

And now she is expected to pay about 7% of her income in bedroom tax because the council gave her 2 bedrooms. She didn't ask for 2 bedrooms, it's all they had available. They can't offer her 1 bedroom and anyway moving would much more difficult for her than anyone else.

I'm so furious. On the day the Govt spend £10 million+ on a very controversial funeral they have just made life even more difficult and miserable for my brave, vulnerable sister. Bastards.

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 17/04/2013 22:16

YANBU.

It's mainly a very spiteful and misguided tax.

EarthtoMajorTom · 17/04/2013 22:16

YANBU. The government is.

My sympathies.

lauriedriver · 17/04/2013 22:18

Might be wrong but I didn't think this 'tax' applied to pensioners or those on disability

Vijac · 17/04/2013 22:19

This does sound annoying for her and a nuisance. However, she must be pleased to be supported with money and accommodation, despite being unable to work. Maybe see can move? Those for work or rent themselves have to move if they can not afford it any longer and if it is an inconvenient to them so maybe she could look at it like that. I hope she is able to come to a solution.

slightlysoupstained · 17/04/2013 22:19

YANBU.

Agreed with aldiwhore, it's spiteful.

Vijac · 17/04/2013 22:20

Those who I meant

MintyyAeroEgg · 17/04/2013 22:22

I am more than a little bit horrified to learn that this is the case for those who cannot work and for whom no alternative accommodation is being offered??

FuckOffMrBloom · 17/04/2013 22:24

Oh yes, vijac. She should be ever so 'umble and bow and scrape to her betters for deigning to supply her with bed and board.

She should be grateful for every scrap.

Indeed.

buckingfollocks · 17/04/2013 22:26

Does she have a carer or anyone who regularly stays there to look after her? If so, speak to your LA as there is guidance that an extra room should be allocated in such cases

Bluebirdonmyshoulder · 17/04/2013 22:26

I also thought that those who received DLA were exempt. Does she receive DLA?

If so I think you should challenge this, I bet there's going to be quite a lot of mistakes.

If I'm wrong then that's awful and it doesn't sound fair at all and I suspect this is one of those policies that will cost more to implement than it will save.

On a practical note, if she does have to pay, can you all chip in and pay it for her?

OTTMummA · 17/04/2013 22:30

Maybe you can volueenter your services and hunt for a 1 bed place that cost the same as social housing, then you can help to move a disabled woman away from her family and support network.

How's about it?

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 17/04/2013 22:31

I work for a local housing association. Unfortunately disabled people are also going to be included in the bedroom tax. I know at my place staff are contacting tenants to help them move if they are affected. Could you try your local housing association if the council can't help?

OTTMummA · 17/04/2013 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Bluebirdonmyshoulder · 17/04/2013 22:32

Was that directed at me OTTMummA ?

Vatta · 17/04/2013 22:33

One of the worst things about bedroom tax is that even if you WANT to move to a smaller place, if the council doesn't have anything smaller available you still pay the tax! It's very unfair, especially in the north where "households with spare rooms" outnumber "overcrowded households" by about 3 to 1 so people can't downsize.

It does definitely apply to people on DLA, but if your sister needs overnight care then see if the council will give her an exemption.

Bluebirdonmyshoulder · 17/04/2013 22:33

x post, sorry!

OTTMummA · 17/04/2013 22:36

:D no problem.

Wereonourway · 17/04/2013 22:36

Bloody hell, I had obviously heard about this happening. I kind of knew of the uproar surrounding it etc but to read about it has really brought it home.

The country is in an absolute mess, it really is. Everything is the just wrong way round, from the benefits system to te judicial system.

The wrong groups of people are being targeted every step of the way, and yes op, to spend so much on a funeral, of someone who privatised so much, is bloody appalling.

I hope your sister can get something sorted

twofingerstoGideon · 17/04/2013 22:36

YANBU. Agree with aldiwhore.
I really can't understand how anyone who thinks about this for longer than five minutes could support the 'bedroom tax', which must surely be one of this government's most ill-judged decisions.

kinkyfuckery · 17/04/2013 22:38

It's awful Sad

Has she had any adaptations made to her current home?

Bluebirdonmyshoulder · 17/04/2013 22:39

This actually makes me want to punch Nick Clegg's 'caring' face in. This is the kind of thing the Lib Dems should be vetoing.

I already want to punch Ham Face and Gideon.

ifancyashandy · 17/04/2013 22:40

Go to the Press. Local and national (The Mirror might be interested). Use the 'on the same day as Thatchers £10 million funeral' angle. Tweet it using the mirror hash tag. Surprisingly, the Star are also fairly left wing these days.

Utter utter bastards.

Original poster
ElectricSheep · 17/04/2013 22:40

I must admit I assumed that she would be exempt. She is at the most severe end of the spectrum of disability. But no, the person she spoke to today from the Council said it still applies to those in receipt of DLA.

Buckingfollocks we are going to try to appeal on the grounds that when she becomes very ill one of us does often stay with her. More bloody bureaucratic nonsense to negotiate for us though Angry Carers haven't got any other commitments though have they?

Vijac your attitude makes me so depressed. My sister is very very vulnerable. She didn't ask for 2 bedrooms, but that was what was available, and yes she was grateful and took it. There are no 1 bed council flats available. It would be very difficult for her to move. If we were lucky enough to find a 1 bed private rented for her locally she would only get a 6 month or may be 1 year tenancy privately meaning we might be in the position of having to move her once or twice every year. How absolutely stupid and impractical would that be?

OP posts:
lauriedriver · 17/04/2013 22:44

I can totally understand the need to free up social housing for bigger families but the way the government are going about it is disgraceful. Especially as properties available for peoples individual needs are few & far between. Makes you wonder how these politicians come up with these ideas. More than likely in the bar, over a glass of pims

coreny · 17/04/2013 22:45

'This does sound annoying for her and a nuisance.'

a nuisance vijac? Did you really mean that?