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Original poster

40,000 families homeless due to benefit cuts - and no money saved...

206 replies

pointythings · 03/07/2011 19:01

story in today's Guardian

I am just Shock.

So what can we do to keep people in their homes, especially given that the majority of these families will be working families? How are low-paid jobs in places like London going to be done without penalising the people earning this low pay by forcing them to move away and incur huge travel costs? Are we ever going to have the house price readjustment that is needed so that people can live where they work, have sensible mortgages they can afford and are able to save a bit too?

Aaaargh, I wish I had some answers, I am feeling really depressed about this...

OP posts:
moondog · 06/07/2011 17:53

'It's no good throwing money at people and then blaming the rich for the fact that there's no money left in the coffers.'

Well said!

Ishani · 06/07/2011 18:07

People have had every opportunity and indeed still do to educate themselves I was told at sure start I had potential which is a relief I can tell you, I have a degree and professional qualfications but had I wanted to do an nvq in customer service there was the opportunity for me to do so whilst ss minded the little one.
My discharge pack from the hospoital had details about where to turn to for advice about housing, education and jobs I mean bloody hell how much more leading to water does the horse need ?

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 18:15

I dont believe people can now live a life on benefits. If you are on JSA you have to go on 14 week courses, work placements.

If you are on IS and your kids are at school you are sent for interviews. Your money is stopped if you dont.

I dont think a lifestyle on benefits is an option in this day and age. Yes you get the mothers who keep on having kids to avoid it but they are in the minority. I dont know any.

I know someone who was on disablilty as he has severe MS. He is deemed fit to work sitting down so now gets JSA as he cant find a job or get to one if he had one when he has an episode. He runs a flat on £60pw. Yes he gets HB but he has to pay tv licence, gas, electric, water rates. Then feed and clothe himself.

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 19:00

Who was it that said 'The poor will always be with us?'

I am seeing people on this thread who appear to think that it is perfectly OK for people to end up living in sub-standard housing, having to pay more to get to work than people who are wealthier than they are, having to choose between heating and eating with energy bills going up - but that's fine, because their skills 'aren't worth more than that'. That's how it used to be in Victorian times, anyone read their history? So employers should be allowed to get away with paying poverty wages and tehre should not be a safety net, because these people don't deserve it.

I am ashamed to be the same species as you.

OP posts:
Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 19:20

Ishani - its a bit pointless doing a customer service course if there are no customer service jobs. I live in the NE where most of the larger call centres were based. They have now relocated.

TheHumanCatapult · 06/07/2011 19:25

Falcon

I happen to work thank you very much and is recognised by the goverment .i am a carer for mmy youngest son .Carers have to proove they do 37 plus hrs a week of care and for this we get the pricely sum of 37p .now add into the mix that I am a full time wheelchair user with bowel and bladder problems ( not on Esa or Incapcity benefits as am on carers .i am pretty much unemployable .without even considering my son needs

Yet it is a one rule for all so it seems .So genuine cases are all treated the same

Ishani · 06/07/2011 19:52

Do you know i did the nvq actually because a level 2 qualification is better than a slap in face with a kipper perhaps that's where I differ from many others I see free education and a string to my bow as being worth 20 hours of my time because you never know where it might lead.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 20:14

Ive got NVQ's. Level 1, 2 and 3 in business admin. Level 2 in customer services. There not really helping me Hmm Unless anyone can magic some employers from somewhere, open the closed shops/pubs, reinstate the call centres.

Done my basic food hygeine certificate, that hasnt helped.

Awaiting to hear back from the care home i have applied to and for my advisor to tell me what i have to do next.

What NVQ can you do in 20hrs? Curious

Ishani · 06/07/2011 20:42

May it's your spelling and basic English which is letting you down then, seriously i'm not bitching but that could well be the problem I wouldn't have you down as a business administrator based on your posts.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 20:57

Ishani - it may be the clingy 2 year old i had on my knee or the other 2 distracting me in the background.

Last time i checked i didnt have to have an A level in English to work in a fish shop, pub or shop.

I could just put the auto correct on next time if it offends you.

Its Maybe not may and are.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 20:58

Full stop after I.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 21:07

Christ

Full stop before I.

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 21:21

Fifi FWIW attacking someone over spelling/grammar on an internet forum is a bit Hmm - I'm a complete Lynne Truss but have posted messages with errors in because I have a keyboard on my lap, am watching the Apprentice and have had some wine am tired after a long day's work. You sound as if you've really invested in yourself and are trapped by where you are - and the naysayers may scream, but relocating usually costs money, which people don't have.

You absolutely have my sympathy and you deserve all the help you can get.

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 06/07/2011 21:25

pointythings - I think Fifi was 'attacked' first, she was just retaliating.

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 21:33

Jareth, I was defending Fifi from the poster who was making unnecessary comments about her spelling/grammar in her posts so we are on the same hymn sheet! Grin

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 06/07/2011 21:35
Grin

whoops!! Blush

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 21:37

Dat's awright, wabbit Grin

OP posts:
Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 21:38

I know pointy, i cant be arsed to argue.

You do feel like your in a trap. The problem at the minute is many employers have stopped offering 16hrs. The benefits advisor says this is a real problem at the moment. I have a job i can go back to at anytime up the street cleaning. Its only 10 hours though so i would be able to keep £20 out my wages but then would pay £15 to the babysitter to watch the kids 5-7 mon till fri. I just need something for 6hrs to enable me to get WTC. The problem is the places you would normally pick up 6 hours in are closed.

Ive never done office work since 2001. I am quite happy doing jobs people consider shite as they fit around the kids with no pressure.

My dream job at the moment is a dinner lady Grin. That's why i done the food hygiene. My benefit advisor who is really good is keeping an eye on anything which is coming in.

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 21:44

Don't worry about arguing, there'll be people like Jreth and myself to do it for you.

Here's hoping you'll be a dinner lady soon!

OP posts:
Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/07/2011 22:11

Thanks

I think i would look quite fetching in the blue hairnet Grin

Original poster
pointythings · 06/07/2011 22:15

Absolutely, can't think why Kate isn't wearing one. Or Wills, come to think of it. Molto stylish.

OP posts:
overthemill · 07/07/2011 07:19

thefalcon sorry not checked back for a while - i would ensure the tax was paid by deducting it at source. I wouldnt allow people to earn money from this country who lived abroad i would simply stop all the residence abroad nonsense that the rich people use to avoid/evade. i would increase numbers of tax enforcers (maybe a job creation scheme??) i would ensure that people who earned more than £X had their salaries paid via the tax offfices, not the companies pay clerks. something like that i think - there are ways and means. i never forget that it is always possible to get step change if you are creative enough

btw, all teh spelling nerds - on a pc/laptop it isnt the spelling you shd be criticising, its the typing - i have 3 post grad qualifications but it doesn include typing.

Morloth · 07/07/2011 09:36

Are the councils required by law to actually house people if they are made redundant?

It is a proper law? Because I would be worried that would be the next step.

If you say 'well it will cost a lot more to house us in a BnB' then the obvious thing to do (from a financial point of view) is for that to not happen. Hence people not costing anything, but really being up shit creek.

I wonder what the plan is here? I don't usually comment on benefit threads as I am overseas and not in the situation so don't really understand all the rules etc.

But I am starting to worry when so many people are saying 'It would cost a lot more to pay a carer/for a BnB' etc. That the answer to that will be that those things simply don't happen and people are on their own.

Britain looks like quite a scary place to be right now.

Morloth · 07/07/2011 09:47

Sorry, not 'redundant', I meant 'homeless'.

No idea where redundant came from.

TheFalcon · 07/07/2011 10:03

"thefalcon sorry not checked back for a while - i would ensure the tax was paid by deducting it at source. I wouldnt allow people to earn money from this country who lived abroad i would simply stop all the residence abroad nonsense that the rich people use to avoid/evade. i would increase numbers of tax enforcers (maybe a job creation scheme??) i would ensure that people who earned more than £X had their salaries paid via the tax offfices, not the companies pay clerks. something like that i think - there are ways and means. i never forget that it is always possible to get step change if you are creative enough"

How would you replace the money that would be lost through lack of overseas investment?

I would you replace the money that would be lost from people moving abroad (and jobs moving abroad)?

Your plans would result in a lowering of the tax take, not raising it.