to ask if you will be affected by the reduced benefit cap (to £23,000)...

[steiner8]

where do you currently live and what changes you will have to make because of the cap? Will you need to move? Will you have to cut down on food? Will you have to cut down on clothes and toys for your children?

[ghostspirit]

people who work at least 16 hours are not effected by the cap

[Katniramal]

Do you mind me asking how do you know that ghostspirit? I thought exact details hadn't been published yet.

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

The cap mainly affects people in high rent areas, for whom housing costs are disproportionately high. They didn't set the rents, or decide they wanted to live in a desirable area just because they could. Of course 23k is enough - under many circumstances but not all! WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

[JaceLancs]

No it will not affect me
I am fed up with so many benefit threads though

[ghostspirit]

kat do you mean when the latest cuts come in. if you do i might have it wrong.

but defo at the moment people have to work over 16 hours. it will be on the gov sites. hope its not changing though i might have to live in a tent

luis i agree enough for someone in social housing. not for someone private renting.

[ilovechristmas1]

im on benefit slightly over a £23k cap but wont be affected

[Katniramal]

Thanks ghost, I did mean the latest round of cuts, yes.

I've recently returned to work after 10 years staying at home (lone parent and carer to disabled twins). I'm only self-employed doing admin work and so far only have work 3 days a week for 3 months. If tax credits get cut, God knows how I'll cope. The hours I can work are governed by my caring role. There is no child care available for disabled children here. It's me or nothing.

[bloodyteenagers]

The cap wouldn't effect us. Household income is less than this cap.
What will effect us is a cut in Tc.

[ghostspirit]

kat i dont have disabled children. but same here i cant do without tax credits. if they cut them i cant live. and if i dont work i cant live...makes me think whats the point

[Mistigri]

I don't understand why people believe that only those living in "desirable" areas will be caught by the ceiling.

I used to live in Tottenham, close to the notorious Broadwater Farm estate (for those too young to remember, there were big riots there in the Thatcher years and a policeman was murdered). It's nicer than it used to be, but it is not a "desirable area" in the sense that I think most people would use the term - except that it's in London and has two zone 3 tube stations within walking distance. Housing benefit on the two bed flat that we used to live in would put you close to or possibly even over the new limit, without taking any other benefits into account.