Hull unites to support families hit by 'bedroom tax' benefit cuts
Hull's leaders are uniting to offer help to low-income families facing benefits cuts under the so-called "bedroom tax".
Thousands of households in council and housing association properties across Hull will see their benefits reduced by up to 25 per cent from next month because they have been classed as having spare bedrooms.
It means they will all have to pay higher rents.
Unemployed Brian Allen, 53, of River Grove, west Hull, is just one wondering how he will cope.
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He currently lives on £71-a-week Jobseekers' Allowance but faces having to pay £19.80-a- week towards his rent from April 1, because he lives alone in a three-bed council house.
"To save money I don't usually have the heating on and don't use the hot water much," he said.
"I get by on eating basic food, looking for offers like three tins of beans for £1 or two loaves of bread for £1.
"Once I've paid the bills and bought my food, there's not a lot left so I am going to really struggle."
When he moved into the house 13 years ago he was living with his now ex-partner and their two children.
His daughter Joanne, 26, died two years ago from pneumonia and her ashes are scattered in his back garden.
Mr Allen, who last worked as a binman on a one-year training contract, said: "It's not that I don't want to work, but trying to get a job with decent hours is very hard.
"I'm at the job club twice a week and I've got an interview next week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed but this bedroom tax just seems wrong. It almost makes me feel guilty for being unemployed."
He said moving to a smaller council property was not an option,
"For a start, there aren't any and even if there were I would have to pay to change certain things, like new flooring and removing the fishpond I've built in the garden here .
"That all costs money, which I don't have.
"There's also a little memorial area for Jo where her ashes are scattered.
"She grew up here before moving in with her boyfriend just round the corner from here.
"It would be very hard to leave that behind.
"When we moved here, the house was full. Things change in life, kids grow up, people split up, but it's still a home. Now I'm getting penalised for that."
Campaigners claim the Government welfare reform is unfairly penalising people who cannot downsize because of a shortage of smaller social housing properties.
There are currently about 70 one-bed council homes available in Hull.
Now the city's MPs are joining forces with church leaders, charities, social enterprise bodies and Hull City Council to launch a one-stop support service.
Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson said: "The idea for this started when the Bishop of Hull contacted me to ask if there was anything the church could do locally to help.
"Most of the people facing these cuts are in a very vulnerable position, either financially or from a health point of view.
"Because there just aren't enough smaller properties to move into, they don't really have a choice in this.
"That's why I think it's right to call it a tax."
Mr Johnson said a co-ordinated approach to helping people facing financial hardship was one of way of responding to the issue.
"By the churches, charities, social enterprises and the council working together on this, we can identify the people most in need and then give practical help, whether it's through advice and support on jobs and training or access to a local food band," he said.
"Make no mistake, the impact on the working poor of Hull is going to be significant, whether it's through the bedroom tax, the changes in council tax payments and universal credit or the new disability benefits system being introduced later this year.
"It seems the Government is slowly waking up to some of the consequences of these reforms if the number of U-turns we are seeing on aspects of the bedroom tax are anything to go by.
"However, it's not clear how some of these U-turns will work out in practice and we are only a couple of weeks away from its introduction."
Mr Johnson said the city council had agreed to administer the proposed new service with regular meetings planned involving representatives from each organisation.
"It needs to be joined-up, co-ordinated effort," said Mr Johnson.
• Gallery: Pictures from the bedroom tax protest in Hull city centre
58 Comments
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by ballen52
Saturday, March 23 2013, 3:33PM
“So we are short of homes, most M.Ps have two houses at least some of them have a lot more.
Why don't they help out by giving up one or two of their houses if they are so concerned about homelessness.
And here we hit the nail on the head, Ian Duncan Smith could n't give a toss about homeless people but he's got to find that money to pay millionaires that two grand a week from somewhere.”
by ballen52
Saturday, March 23 2013, 3:25PM
“Thanks for the support Brucealmighty
I don't mind anyone having a different opinion to me, in fact I welcome it, but think about what you are saying before you start tapping away at the keyboard.
There's some people out there that even begrudge me feeding my fish, get a life jp and watch you don't fall off that high horse.
Love Brian x”
by numbnuts
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 2:28PM
“Move some immigrants into the spare rooms, the extra bodies will generate more heat and you could nick their grub out of the fridge whilst they are out.”
by JP_Hull
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:22PM
“We taxpayers are paying his rent, we are paying his council tax, he gets free prescriptions, free dental care and free stamps and stationary at the job centre, He could get free employment training to improve his job prospects, he receives £71 benefit per week from the taxpayer to spend on his favourite beans and even has spare money to waste on food for his fish!
This is an example of why benefit reform is being introduced – A more deserving family of five should be given this three bed house – This chap only requires a bedsit!”
by Anon_Geoff
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:00PM
“Good idea, poorly implemented.
Not a tax. Not your house in the end.
Would you get enough benefit to live in a private rented place?”
by hull-83
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 9:00AM
“Brucealmighty talk about a personal attack!! I am merely voicing my opinion. PAUL712 is absolutely right. The way they r introducing it is wrong. If they hadn't knocked down all the smaller properties this wouldn't b a problem. U shouldn't have to pay "bedroom tax" if the council cannot relocate u, this simply isn't fair. However, a council house isn't a house for life. If my financial situation changed i would mice back into council housing, fully in the know that it is bot permanent. Everyone in this country has a right to a roof over their heads. But i personally think its wrong that anyone has the right to stay in a council house that they r not paying for themselves and r claiming housing benefit, when there r families in desperate need of the space. I have not insulted anyone, nearly voiced my opinion. Lets get this right, everyone is calling it bedroom tax, but its actually more or a benefit cut. We all have to make sacrifices to get this country right. I do not vote conservative and am a regular working man from a regular background. I have nothing to have a chip on my shoulderabout”
by paul712
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 8:03AM
“I think the 'bedroom tax' is a good idea in principal, however there needs to be ample 1 & 2 bedroom properties to accommodate those in bigger properties.
If smaller properties are offered to people and they refuse to move then they have no real argument.
@Astran you said "One other point, this bedroom tax....oh what a shock some people are in for ,when someone in govt. decides it is unfair to just charge the unemployed a bedroom tax, and starts to charge EVERYONE it.That cant happen you all say.Well Cypriot govt. wouldnt dream of robbing bank accounts would they???"
Do you not realise the 'bedroom tax' is only applicable to those who are claiming housing benefit, there are plenty of unemployed who own their own house who do not claim housing benefits who will not be affected by the 'bedroom tax'.”
by paul712
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 8:01AM
“I think the 'bedroom tax' is a good idea in principal, however there needs to be ample 1 & 2 bedroom properties to accommodate those in bigger properties.
If smaller properties are offered to people and they refuse to move then they have no real argument.
@Astran you said "One other point, this bedroom tax....oh what a shock some people are in for ,when someone in govt. decides it is unfair to just charge the unemployed a bedroom tax, and starts to charge EVERYONE it.That cant happen you all say.Well Cypriot govt. wouldnt dream of robbing bank accounts would they???"
Do you not realise the 'bedroom tax' is only applicable to those who are claiming housing benefit, there are plenty of unemployed who own their own house who do not claim housing benefits who will not be affected by the 'bedroom tax'.”
by Astran
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:42PM
“Look, is that a typical statement everyone spills out who happens to work "WHY DONT YOU GET A JOB?" What tripe. There aren't any jobs worth having nowadays in Hull.
By the way ,yes i work for a living.Just think on when you might be in that unemployment boat. Benefits (contrary to Cameron /Ian DRunken Smith and co.) are NOT too high to live on, WAGES are too LOW!
One other point, this bedroom tax....oh what a shock some people are in for ,when someone in govt. decides it is unfair to just charge the unemployed a bedroom tax, and starts to charge EVERYONE it.That cant happen you all say.Well Cypriot govt. wouldnt dream of robbing bank accounts would they???”
by brucealmighty
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:25PM
“ballen52
You are just brilliant your comments have put those judge mental idiots in there place to the point where there just speechless ha ha ha
hull-83
you are the biggest idiot you win the "i have a chip on my shoulder award" ,please get in touch with the mail so there can present it to you ,well done!!”