Heartbreaking. Grandmother commits suicide due to bedroom tax.

[Darkesteyes]

This is heart rending. She left a note before heading to the moterway.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bedroom-tax-victim-commits-suicide-1883600#.UY6lhlQGgMY.twitter

[janey68]

whose

[Viviennemary]

I cannot see what is heartless about expecting people to move out of state owned property to allow another family to benefit from that state owned house. A family with young children who may be in an overcroweded flat with no garden.

That person had the priviledge of this housing when their children were small why can't another family have that benefit. I think it's not logical or sensible to have any other rule. Even people who own their own houses often have to downsize as they cannot afford to maintain the property they are in.

[CockyFox]

I am from Solihull, I don't know this family but I know people who live in Kingshurst ( where our big council estate is and hence this ladies family are) and I know some of them are mumsnetters so I am sure this thread will be read by friends and neighbours if not the family.
Clearly this is a very sad situation but having move is not unusual here, the council have been moving for many years in the name of North Solihull Regeneration. There is nowhere decent to go now even homeowners have been subject to compulsory purchase.

[handcream]

I think whoever wrote this article had some left wing leanings that has really backfired. Surely no one is suggesting that we leave people as they are in case it upsets them to move. Clearly this woman had some other issues but blaming the government is IMHO not where the blame lies.

When someone rents a council place it is their's until they no longer need it. This woman is not much older than me but I dont believe she is working and it isnt right that she stays in a 3 bed house just because she wanted to.

If I lost my job I would lose the house. Just because I dont want to leave doesnt mean it wont happen!

[usualsuspect]

I'd like to know what all the heartless fuckers on this thread are doing to help the homeless.

I can't see them giving up their comfortable lifestyles to help the less fortunate anytime soon.

[snowballinashoebox]

She wasn't working because she suffered from Myasthenia Gravis which is an auto immune system deficiency.

heartless fuckers indeed.

[PeneloPeePitstop]

You know what? I used to think it couldn't happen to me. I was 'successful' and needed no recourse to public funds.

I hope it happens to this lot. Each and every one.

[usualsuspect]

I don't think they would turn down the chance to buy a cheap house in case a not so well off family needed it more, do you?

only the poor have to do their bit,apparently.

[usualsuspect]

Actually they are more likely to buy up all the cheap houses and rent them out for extortionate rents.

[FasterStronger]

I'd like to know what all the heartless fuckers on this thread are doing to help the homeless.

when I was younger I took a weeks holiday every year to work on a homeless shelter for 7 years. now I have less time but DP & I paid 80k in tax 2012-2013 excluding my income.

[FasterStronger]

Actually they are more likely to buy up all the cheap houses and rent them out for extortionate rents.

that is just a stupid generalisation and carries the intellectual rigour of saying all people on benefits drink beer all day.

[usualsuspect]

Working with the homeless never changed your I'm alright Jack attitude then?

[FasterStronger]

they had led terrible lives. mainly children's homes and LD.

but moving from a 3 bed house is not a terrible thing.

[Darkesteyes]

Just seen this on Twitter.

Mick Philpott kills six kids and the Tories blame the benefit system
Bedroom tax victim commits suicide and they "cant comment on individual cases" !

[handcream]

But this woman wasnt homeless. She had a three bed house provided to her. She was offered a smaller property. She decided to kill herself by throwing herself in front of a lorry.

I am sorry but does anyone really think that because of this and the fact she has blamed 'the government' mean that anyone who wants to stay in their old council house regardless of the size and the fact that children have long gone should be able to? She didnt think of anyone else sadly in this horrible situation. Not her family, that poor lorry driver or anyone else waiting for a 3 bed to come onto the council house list.

She clearly had some mental helath issues and I agree with some other posters, it isnt going to change the policy of moving people to more appropriate sized houses now that circumstances have changed.

[handcream]

So, Darkesteyes. If you have say a 4 bed council property and your family have moved out - you should be allowed to stay there.... really....

[snowballinashoebox]

It is pretty terrible if it's 30 minutes from a bus stop and you have Myasthenia Gravis.

bangs head against wall.

[FasterStronger]

snow - yes if that is correct the council have failed.

[snowballinashoebox]

handcream, I think you had better stop because you have no compassion or empathy to even begin to understand or what drives someone to take their own life.

[Darkesteyes]

I recognise a few names on this linked thread.

Seems quite a few of the more compassionless ones on here were happy to politicise in this case .........


www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/a1724061-Was-the-Daily-Mail-right-to-call-Mick-Philpott-a-vile-product-of-the-Welfare-System

[PeneloPeePitstop]

Oh of COURSE. She should have taken the property which meant shed be completely housebound, unable to shop for herself or get to medical appointments for her auto immune condition.

Silly me for not 'getting it' face palm
The alternative wasn't appropriate. I don't actually believe the posters here are dense, just wilfully obtuse and/or requiring an empathy transplant.

[usualsuspect]

So, the poorest in society give up their houses to help out other families

What exactly are the richest in society going to do to help the housing situation?

[PeneloPeePitstop]

And since when was failing to claim benefits you're entitled to a bad thing around here? Surely according to the lot on here she should be beatified for not sucking the taxpayer dry...

[CrispyHedgeHog]

I don't think anyone disagrees with the need to free up the bigger, under occupied properties for families who need them but this bedroom tax/spare room subsidy is NOT the answer.

Private lets mostly won't take people on hb, so that's not really a viable option.

I think there should be incentives to encourage people to move, pay their removal costs, give them a grant towards the cost of carpeting/decorating the new place because even if there are brand new carpets, the council will rip them out before allowing someone new to move in - and flooring etc is hideously expensive.

People on benefits generally can't afford the costs of moving, so if there was help with those expenses, I bet you'd get a lot more people downsizing. By making them pay extra when they're already on the bones of their arses will simply lead to debt, rent arrears, evictions and even more suicides.

[Darkesteyes]

EXACTLY Penelope Its a no win situation isnt it.