Just been on a course about new benefit system

[buggyRunner]

Christ it's a big shake up.

I say this as someone who won't be personally affected- it is harsh.

Basically if you claim any benefits other than child benefit you're probably going to have a loss.

[crazynanna]

That is the first time I have been on a thread with disablist comments here. I have read threads with them on...but never been on one when it happened.

God i feel sick. I didn't think I would actually feel physically ill.

[noddyholder]

Disability and I'll health are not things to punish for what is wrong with some people?

[Viviennemary]

Sorry, but I feel it is more than a bit irresponsible saying all this is coming into effect and sending people into a panic. I am reading on here that child benefit is to be paid for only up to three children and no subsequent children get benefit. Is this true?

[carernotasaint]

What i meant by "bout fucking time" is because i have seen disabilist comments by that particular poster before but the response from OliviaLMumsnet was bloody swift so thanks again MN HQ

[ASillyPhaseIAmGoingThrough]

Josephine has disappeared?

[carernotasaint]

Josephine has disappeared.
EXACTLY. I still stand by my Tory HQ comment.

[Tortington]

that's ok olivia t'was expected

[edam]

the spare rooms thing might, at first glance, seem reasonable. But actually it will force foster carers to give up fostering. They MUST have a separate bedroom available for a foster child - that's an essential requirement. Yet as soon as a foster child leaves, a foster family waiting for another child will be penalised if they live in social housing. This glaring problem was not only pointed out to the government but the House of Lords corrected it - yet the government put it back in again. Pure spite. And that's just typical of this government's spiteful self-defeating 'reforms' that will end up costing us even more money in the long run - just on different budget lines and from different departments. Still, what does it matter if even more children in care are dumped in children's homes, as long as a bunch of wealthy Tories get to grandstand about how they've slashed disability benefits because disabled people are all scroungers?

[AmberLeaf]

The unspoken truth (and I wish the govt would have the balls to just admit it) is that DLA is available to too many people and in the current climate needs to be cut. Ditto with IB

That's bollocks.

Luckily for you that you haven't had to claim it for your child so you wouldn't know the first thing about it other than 'my mates uncles dog gets it for an ingrown toenail' type anecdote.

Why do you think you know so much about it all anyway? It wasn't so long ago that I had to correct you in your thinking that DLA is an out of work benefit. You didn't realise that getting it enables some disabled people to work.

You had better hope that you and yours never need it.

[carernotasaint]

[rshipstuff]

There is a lot of propaganda being spread by all sides. I wouldn't treat it all as gospel truth, much of the time they are painting worst-case scenarios in order to stir up opposition.

[AmberLeaf]

Thank you :)

[buggyRunner]

Oh the shocking thing about it is that apparently foster children aren't included so you don't get a room for them

[EdithWeston]

Sorry if this is mentioned up thread (I saw similar question but not answer):

Who ran this course? Who were the speakers on it? What was its aim?

Who was on the course?

Were any political parties, or other particular organisations involved, and if so, which ones?

[niceguy2]

I think we just have different opinions Amber. We simply cannot afford the status quo. That is absolute fact which no-one aside from the economic flat-earther's can deny. So the question is where do you make the cuts? You have to draw the line somewhere. The pot is not unlimited and we cannot make the pot big enough by merely shouting 'tax the rich'

The examples I have given are known to myself so it's up to others to decide if either I am lying or my friends have lied to me.

I'm sure we all know people who have questionable claims. There simply is a MASSIVE amount of people who receive a lot of benefits and as a result have little incentive to better themselves or work. In fact often they find themselves trapped.

My main points are that the current system is very inefficient, can be improved and in it's current form is unaffordable.

We can all find examples which we feel are unjust but that doesn't prove that the system is perfect. Quite simply it isn't.

Whether or not you believe Universal Credit is the answer I guess will largely depend on your politics. Personally I feel that whilst not perfect, it's a step in the right direction and better/fairer than the current system. But given the majority automatically assume anything the Tories do must be bad, i accept I am possibly in the minority.

[ophelia275]

Can someone please post a link to the official document which outlines all these changes? Otherwise it just sounds like chinese whispers.

[buggyRunner]

The course/ session was created by the company I work for's benefits advisor (it was an overview to get us ready as it will massively affect our work)

She explained all the info was available (I will ask for sources when I'm next at work) and I work for a housing association. The biggest focus if the session wad how we can help our clients budget and prepare for this. And also how to ensure they pay their rent as hb payment will go to them (and we deal with v vulnerable people some of who recording large amounts of money monthly is going to be disasterous)

[Viviennemary]

If these are proposals would the information given on this course be confidential.

[SerialKipper]

DWP impact report on making contribution-based ESA one year only. States that it expects people will be thrown onto Housing Benefit to make up part of the shortfall.
www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA11-022BN.pdf

Hansard, written answer by Maria Miller, Minister for the Disabled, 18 Oct 2010:
"One factor being considered in developing options for the new assessment is the need for reform of disability living allowance to deliver savings of 20% of working age expenditure."
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101018/text/101018w0002.htm

[garlicbutter]

Benefit Changes Overview: www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes.aspx

Benefit Changes Timetable: www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes/benefit_changes.aspx

Benefit Cap: www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/benefits_news_and_changes/benefit_cap.aspx

On housing benefit:

"In April 2011, maximum local housing allowance (LHA) rates in all areas were reduced ? only three out of ten properties for rent in any area are now affordable for people making a new claim. Unless your rent is already one of the lowest 30 per cent in your area, the maximum LHA you can be paid will be less than your rent."

"From January 2012, the ?shared accommodation rate? will apply to people aged up to 35 years. If you are aged under 35, you are likely to see a cut to your LHA payment and may no longer be able to afford your current property as a result."

"Local housing allowance (LHA) rates for larger households used to include a maximum payment for up to five bedroom properties. From 1 April 2011, the rates are limited to a maximum of four bedrooms."

england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/changes_to_local_housing_allowance

"Size criteria will apply in the social rented sector (eg council and housing association properties) replicating the size criteria that applies to Housing Benefit claimants in the private rented sector under the Local Housing Allowance rules. This means that people living in houses larger than they need (under-occupiers) will have to move to somewhere smaller or make up the difference in rent because their Housing Benefit will be reduced:
14% cut in Housing Benefit if you under-occupy by one bedroom
25% cut in Housing Benefit if you under-occupy by two or more bedrooms

"This is only for working-age people but it is expected to affect 670,000 social sector tenants.

"LHA rates will be increased in line with the Consumer Price Index instead of the market rents in each area. The connection with actual rents will be lost."

www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes/benefit_changes.aspx?page=16619

[garlicbutter]

Vivienne - No. Proposals are made public and usually published as PDF files. I found the relevant ones while researching for TooManyCuts. Anyone can do the same.

[garlicbutter]

(Remember they work for us, not t'otherway round! Govt is not free to make 'confidential' policies that affect us all.)

[ophelia275]

garlic butter, thanks for those. Where does it state that child benefits/tax credits are being capped at 3 children as buggyRunner has said?

BuggyRunner, on your course did they specifically state the child benefit cap to 3 kids is coming in? This is going to be massive if that is true but I have not read anything online about this. It will affect a lot of my friends who have more than 3 kids and are receiving those allowances but I cannot believe it would be true.

[ASillyPhaseIAmGoingThrough]

I would guess cb for existing dc 4 would stand, just no more cb from certain date

[HaitchJay]

I'm more concerned about CB being in universal credit as I claim CB but not CTC despite being entitled and I don't want to have to claim it.