Shame on you Iain Duncan Smith for causing stress to this vunerable DV victim

[JamNan]

link here to story on BBC website

Long story short:
A woman known as 'A' has been raped, assaulted, harassed and stalked by an ex-partner. As part of what is called a Sanctuary Scheme, she and her son live in a three-bedroom home which has been specially adapted as a safe and secure space by the police.

Under new Housing Benefit rules, the woman and her son will only receive HB for a two-bedroom property; which means a reduction in income of 14%. Supported by Women's Aid she has challenged the decision in the High Court.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is defending the claim, no doubt at great expense to taxpayers having unsuccessfully argued at a hearing in June that it should be dismissed.

I am astonished at the callous attitude of the government, IDS and his ministers. Surely we should be helping this vulnerable woman until she can get on her feet again and not penalize her.

Please don't start a bunfight about scrounging benefit claimants.

At least, I know this to be true wrt to the impact of the bedroom tax on disabled people, and welfare restructuring in general on shelters from DV.

So it seems very likely that anyone with a brain charities will have pointed out this problem with the legislation before it was passed.

I can categorically state that yes this was raised as an issue before it was passed at the appropriate time, as were the problems facing disabled children and disabled adults.

Raised and reiterated by several other consultancy groups.

If I'd had a panic room I would not have suffered the violence I did. Just somewhere safe to dive into while you ring the police is enough. I couldn't runaway fast enough so ended up with broken eye socket, broken arm, sexual injuries and extreme bruising. I think unless you have suffered DV you will never fully understand.

TheChandler, I think you'll have to conclude that IDS and this government do not agree with you that one "should normally expect such houses to be exempt from this requirement."

They didn't find the law engraved under a stone guarded by a frog king at the bottom of a sacred pond, and are now undergoing a knightly quest to right the ancient wrong. They just, you know, wrote it.

I am quite happy to spread my personal opprobrium for doing this over IDS and every MP who voted for it. Though he who leads the defence of the indefensible will of course receive the larger share.