Cut benefits before increasing council tax

[Bonde]

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reeves-council-tax-hike-5HjdMrJ_2/

As an increase in income tax is now out the window, the government will have to look at other ways to fill the gap by increasing a dozen smaller taxes. One option, I think they will opt for, is to apply a surcharge for homes in bands F,G&H. It would be politically expedient to do so because many people will assume those in such homes are wealthy.

We purchased our band f property earlier this year at £550k. We live in London and didn’t want to uproot our family, and move jobs, so decided to buy our 2.5 bed house.
After mortgage and bills, we have £100 to £200 left over, but some months have nothing. An increase would be so difficult to manage.

Why can’t the government have the courage to cut benefits. You can buy a BMW or Mercedes on the Mobility Scheme! Why?

But not the fault of those on PIP, I’m sure you’ll agree?

Well, to echo you: I don't think you need UC as you're perfectly capable of working. You just need to work more....

See how difficult it gets when you start highlighting specific groups as the "reason" the Welfare Budget is "too high".

State pensions account for half the Welfare budget. Removing the triple lock would reduce Welfare spending by £5bn-£10bn over the next five years. Seems like a good enough place to start as any, no.

You know people go from well with jobs, houses, families etc. to very unwell and in some cases lose everything, right?

Severe mental illness doesn't care about your bills, about your life.

Yes disability benefits for epilepsy. Has used them to get a lease car through mobility. Their epilepsy is controlled but still can get benefits. Make it make sense!

If the Motability scheme ended tomorrow my DH would still be wheelchair dependent & still be claiming PIP! No money would be saved but it would be more difficult for disabled people to access suitable vehicles. Often these vehicles are what allows the claimant to work & pay taxes. But no, better to stop the scheme so disabled people know their place, which is not in a nice vehicle 🙄

Mmm, a free Mercedes or similar, absolutely no bills of any sort, and about £2000 a month of what they used to call 'pin money' to spend ? And all you have to do is give up working ? I'd like to enrol.

I am no miser.

Why is someone who has metal illness more worthy of a brand new car on lease though the mobility scheme then any other person?

Maybe yeah. I know little about pensions. I'm not saying they're the reason for the welfare budget being high. I don't think it's high. There's always loads unclaimed too.

That wasn't the point I made.

You've just named multiple medication conditions that are not an anxiety disorder. Of course those things are debilitating.

Because of the horrible circumstances of which they were born into this world. Having empathy is recognising this and doing everything in your power to help those less fortunate than you, and that includes sacrificing a portion of the money that your able body earned you.

Excellent. That must fill you with the type of pride money cannot buy. I wouldn't know but that's cool. We all find joy in different ways.

They absolutely are types of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorder is an umbrella term for lots of mental health conditions

Because they've been assessed as having a higher mobility need. They have then opted to use the mobility part of their PIP to get a car on lease. If they didn't opt to have a car on lease, that money would go in their bank instead.

Preventing someone from leasing a car via the motability scheme wouldn't save any money.

I have no empathy for the people that are LYING about mental health issues and claiming benefits including cars. You are not suggesting this doesn’t happen are you?

Have you actually read the pip criteria for high rate motability?

Yes but what I don’t understand is why someone with a mental health issue has a higher mobility need than say someone who doesn’t, but is on minimum wage and can’t afford a new car? How many posts have we seen about people struggling with the costs of car repairs?

You're saying it does happen - so you're going to have to provide the link to the data you read, that led you to know that it happens and at a level that is a significant issue.

We all know that it is taken advantage off. There are many ways round this criteria. The same way many people are claiming all sorts of benefits.

No one has any issue with those in real need. But it’s so easy to abuse the system and so many are.

You can claim it for generalised anxiety. You can say it causes you distress to make food, go out, budget, and get 6-8 points. If you score 8 points you get PIP.

If you say the right things in the assessment, and you aren't truthful about the impact your anxiety has and you embellish it, and you score 8 points, you can get PIP when you do not deserve it.

oh please give over. It’s happening, people cheat and abuse the system. Thats why people get angry and everyone is having these debates.

But she said those who are LYING?

So for the past 30 years I could have been claiming benefits? Who knew?

Sorry I can't make it make sense, the way I see it if epilepsy is controlled (speaking from first hand experience) where is the disability?

He does, about 50 a week minimum and he’s mid 60s.
Im not saying working people should work harder to fund benefits, I think we need to concentrate on the extremely wealthy.

Why is it for brand new cars too? This scheme is being abused.

It is for brand new cars because the Motability Scheme is run by a charity and using brand new cars saves money. Less repairs, servicing, and the charity sells them after roughly 3 years of use. Any disabled people I know who use the scheme would actually prefer an older car as it draws less attention, but that's not an option

Also, the scheme cannot be abused ffs. If you are entitled to the higher rate of the mobility part of PIP, then you are entitled to use that money for the scheme. If you're not, then you can't. There's no grey area to be abused

Again, to make this clear, the Motability Acheme is run by a CHARITY, not the government

My dd got it for social anxiety.,,,. Depends on severity.

Wont get on public transport, too scared to speak to pay fare, or something going wrong with payment.

Won’t speak to shop assistants. Or doctors or dentists.