Words fail me: Benefits cap and "kinship carers"

[LurkingHusband]

www.theguardian.com/society/video/2017/oct/01/penalised-for-caring-alyssa-and-the-two-child-benefits-trap

Alyssa became a 'kinship carer' for her younger siblings when their mother unexpectedly died in 2013. Now that she has decided to start her own family, the government refuses to grant her tax credits or a Sure Start maternity loan due to the two-child benefits cap

Where are all those Tory defenders ?

That is awful. Utterly appalling and immoral.

Appalling

I havent read the link yet...just about to

But thats fucking disgusting ....have they maybe had someone a bit overexcited with their job who may have it wrong

I appreciate that i am desperately clutching at straws here

What a shower of cunts

Disgraceful and it was apparently pointed out to the Government before this policy was put in place and obviously as they are Tories they didn't give a shit.

Rare now that action by any government shocks me.
This does.

Shameful, heartless, disgusting

Alyssa deserves a bloody medal, not to be punished for her caring role
She saved her siblings from going into care, with all that meant for their probable future.
(She also saved the taxpayer a load of money)

(mostly Tory) politicians indignantly ask why people don't care for their vulnerable family member, instead of leaving it to the state. This is an example of one reason why - carers can get penalised

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/27/kinship-carers-exempt-from-two-child-benefit-limits-after-government-u-turn

Except of course it is wrong. Someone may have made a mistake but not the government.

As cdtaylornats has said, the government has not denied her benefits. Someone in the benefits office who doesn't understand the policy properly has got it wrong. Unfortunately that happens a lot under all governments.

Oh good

Have i got it right for once

But as is standard on Mumsnet go tearing into the evil Tories without any research

cdtaylornats
But as is standard on Mumsnet go tearing into the evil Tories without any research

I agree. It's the default response from the predominantly left wingers about anything on here - so boringly predictable.

Because that never ever happens on here the other way round

Nope never

Oh and not left wing

Not that anyone seems to pay any attention

cdtaylor, the article you link to at the end says "It is unclear whether kinship carers will be exempted from the benefit cap, which will limit total benefits claimable by unemployed working-age households to £20,000 or £385 a week (£23,000 or £442 in London), plunging many of those affected into food poverty, rent arrears and eviction."

The article the OP linked to (from the same newspaper) says it's because of the benefits cap that she's not allowed tax credits or a maternity loan.

Are you absolutely sure of what you're saying? And the reason people are tearing into the Tories, as you put it, is because of the piece in the guardian - and you are linking to an earlier piece in the guardian, saying that "fgs, people should do their research".

The article the OP linked to says it is because of the two child benefits cap, not the total benefits cap. If the kinship carer in this case is being denied benefits due to the two child cap someone has fouled up.