Housing benefit cuts target ‘under-occupiers’ in Herefordshire

9:00am Tuesday 4th December 2012 in News By Lydia Johnson

Sheila Cooke, who is set to have her housing benefit cut under the Government’s new ‘bedroom tax’, outside her home in Hereford. Picture by James Maggs. Sheila Cooke, who is set to have her housing benefit cut under the Government’s new ‘bedroom tax’, outside her home in Hereford. Picture by James Maggs.

HEREFORDIANS are being urged to protect themselves against government cuts to housing benefit.

New rules due to come into force in April mean working age social housing tenants who are considered to be “under-occupying” their homes may have their housing benefit reduced.

Those affected will have to pay the difference in increased payments for rent.

Nationally, it is estimated that 670,000 households face losing between 14 and 25 per cent of their housing benefit if they are currently living in a council or housing association home that is judged to have more bedrooms than they need.

Under the new rules, the following groups will be expected to use one bedroom:

  • Every adult couple.
  • A single person aged 16 or over.
  • Any two children of the same sex aged under 16.
  • Any two children of any sex aged 10 or under.
  • Any other child aged under 16.
  • A non-resident’s overnight carer.

‘I can’t face losing all these memories’ 

Sheila Cooke has lived in her four-bedroomed house in Hereford for 17 years and says the prospect of losing it is “heartbreaking”.

Sheila, 48, lost her husband, Donald, a year ago, and shares the house with her 11-year-old son, Guy.

However, she now risks losing 14 per cent of her housing benefit under the new government rules which are also being implemented by Herefordshire Housing, as she has two spare bedrooms.

She said: “It’s just so unfair. My older son Leon, 25, is temporarily staying with me just for support since my husband died. I also suffer from epilepsy, so it is good to have him around for a short time.

“My other children could also come back to stay with me at any time so I need both of the spare bedrooms.

“It’s not about the money – it’s about the history and the memories in the house that are important to me. If I lose the benefits I may not be able to pay the rent which means I would lose the house, and I won’t have that happen."

 

Comments(42)

Dodo leDuck says...
10:35am Tue 4 Dec 12

I this what is meant by "the entitlement culture"?

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Boadacia! says...
11:13am Tue 4 Dec 12

Someone has to pay for the gambling debts of the financiers and politicians. Guess who?

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Dodo leDuck says...
11:41am Tue 4 Dec 12

Boadacia! wrote:
Someone has to pay for the gambling debts of the financiers and politicians. Guess who?
Broadacial,
you mean in addition to paying for the people who would find it "heartbreaking" to lose their four bed-roomed houses?

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fordshire77 says...
12:17pm Tue 4 Dec 12

In the close where my parents live there is a mix of council and privately owned houses and ALL the council houses are now under occupied but all of those 8 houses are occupied with people in there late 50's right up to a lady who has just had her 80th,all these people have grown old together the last person move onto the close was well over 10yrs ago. if they were made to move out you can bet that the scum of the earth would be moved in (meaning long term problem family’s who live off the state with no interest in going out to find ANY work) to a quite and peaceful area with out any consideration to the privately owed residents! its no good them saying home point will vet them because I know this NOT to be the case in other areas of the county or saying they will be give to people with local connection! RANT OVER

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VWVWVW says...
12:26pm Tue 4 Dec 12

While accepting it's hard to leave a home full of memories, years ago it was accepted that people living in Council houses would move to a larger property if the family grew or a smaller one if/when children moved out. This isn't unreasonable, is it?

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RogerLFC says...
1:00pm Tue 4 Dec 12

The Housing people need to get a grip and move Sheila Cooke and her son to a 2 bed flat. If she wants to under occupy a large property then there are loads about. If she wants to buy one that is. I've got 4 near neighbours who are all single ladies living in 3 bed houses that they've bought. It has gone way past the point where the system can give charity handouts so people can prop up their memories ... or keep a couple of spare rooms for people who may visit ...

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UK Taxpayer says...
1:16pm Tue 4 Dec 12

With the exception of genuine cases (ie the genuinely disabled, etc), I think the housing benefit should be scrapped altogether. Many of these people are the dregs of humanity and are sapping the country's finances. Its strange how they can all afford fags, drink, branded clothing (above pic bench hoody), all the mod cons that the working class have to slave away for. My partner and I work very hard just to be able to pay the mortgage and bills yet no disposable income for luxuries like new cars, flat tv's etc. How is this justified! I live in hope that before long something will be done to reward the working class people and remove the luxury lifestyle these benefit scroungers have. Everyone I speak to who works and pays their taxes feels the same, its just no-one wants to speak up about it.
Cutting benefits can only be a good thing!

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allhandstothedeck says...
2:28pm Tue 4 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer wrote:
With the exception of genuine cases (ie the genuinely disabled, etc), I think the housing benefit should be scrapped altogether. Many of these people are the dregs of humanity and are sapping the country's finances. Its strange how they can all afford fags, drink, branded clothing (above pic bench hoody), all the mod cons that the working class have to slave away for. My partner and I work very hard just to be able to pay the mortgage and bills yet no disposable income for luxuries like new cars, flat tv's etc. How is this justified! I live in hope that before long something will be done to reward the working class people and remove the luxury lifestyle these benefit scroungers have. Everyone I speak to who works and pays their taxes feels the same, its just no-one wants to speak up about it.
Cutting benefits can only be a good thing!
And for a couple who have worked for many years without any benefits, they have three children and through no fault of their own the father has been made redundant and the mother is now unable to work because of ill health, what would you say to them ?
UK Taxpayer you are very narrow minded.

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UK Taxpayer says...
3:32pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I would say this is a genuine case! I am more than happy for people in these circumstances to get help, its a genuine case. My frustrations are for the many families and people abusing the system and that are just plain lazy and cannot be bothered to contribute.
PS I am not narrow minded, just realistic and speaking the thoughts of many people.

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bobby47 says...
4:18pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I aint comfortable with this. I do understand the financial plight we are in and I fully understand the huge waiting list that exists for housing but I really dont think it fair that you should lose your home after you've invested half your life in the house.

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Herefordian07 says...
4:57pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Once again we witness the caring jack boot of local government destroying peoples lives and for what? Has anyone costed the moves so that our utopian society can tick all the boxes?
The milk of human kindness seems to have turned sour, and for those who look upon this with green eyes of envy, I would suggest that they stop belly aching about paying taxes as their future might hold hardship or illness and they will be thankful for help too. P.S.Yes I work hard and pay tax but I have witnessed hardship
in those around me and it isn't pleasant nor my choice.

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dippyhippy says...
5:02pm Tue 4 Dec 12

This really is a tricky one.I have every sympathy with people who are in genuine need - after all,that is what the welfare system was set up for.However,there has to be a certain amount of personal responsibility.Shoul
d my other half fall off the perch before the mortgage has been paid off,we have insurance to cover it,however,I probably could not afford to live here by myself.Options?Rent out a room or down size.Wether a council tenant or a homeowner,we all have difficult decisions to make sometimes BUT we have to cut our cloth,and live within our means.A friend of mine just got divorced after 30 years,family home sold - s-it happens to us all,and we have to deal with it.Life is rarely fair,but with so many people homeless,empty rooms that could be put to better use is criminal.

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UK Taxpayer says...
6:44pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Life indeed isn't fair but 'the system' is bulls**t. People who need help can't get it. We live in a rural part of hereford and its lovely and quiet (worked very hard for this). Yet next door is a housing association house, lovely big house, air source heat pump, new everything etc etc. young couple with 4 kids, do f**k all all day and yet perfectly capable of working, yet someone who genuinely needs help and a roof over there head is in a long list waiting. They're rude, disrespectful, think the world owes them something, always got new stuff, spending all the time with there kids, sounds great huh? Thanks to us fools who leave our families for 40+ hrs a week to fund this.

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Mrslawrence66 says...
7:30pm Tue 4 Dec 12

UK taxpayer are you Weston beggard by any chance hmmm I wonder!

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emell says...
7:59pm Tue 4 Dec 12

I was always told "if you can't afford it you can't have it" I have 2 spare bedrooms but I own my property. Yea OK some people can't buy, but have a house big enough to live in not a bleeding guest house. When their young leave the nest, give them a smaller nest. Spare rooms in case they come back, Why? if they had 10 adult kids who have left home would they merit a 11 bed house just in case they all wanted to return

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Biomech says...
1:46am Wed 5 Dec 12

Too right, she does not need a 4 bedroom house. If your asking for help/free then you should be grateful for what youre given, how about they kick her out so she actually has to take some personal responsibility.

If she wants a load of spare rooms, then she can go private - like me, I live on my own in a moderate 3 bedroom house. I rent privately and pay for everything myself.

Far too many people on benefits demanding what they want instead of being grateful for help with what they need.

Note: xbox, skyTV, beer, fags, lottery and trash mags are not *needed* items

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Biomech says...
1:47am Wed 5 Dec 12

Gfs hibbchd dj hvacgh f

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Dodo leDuck says...
2:18am Wed 5 Dec 12

biomech.

so heartless

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UK Taxpayer says...
8:15am Wed 5 Dec 12

Biomech, you are so right, ignore Dodo leDuck's comment, I totally agree with you!

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trucking says...
11:59am Wed 5 Dec 12

Not everybody in housing assosiation houses are on benifits, im in a h/a house because even though i work full time and take on a second job in winter i cant afford 150,000 pounds on a morgage for me and my family. I had a morgage when i was 20 and had the house for several years then sold up, but after leaving the army prices are that high i cant afford it, that doent make me scum because a house is to expensive. However it is very clear and you can see it every day the benifits culture is crazy, some simply cant find a job, but to many dont want a job. It would be hard to leave your memories behind, but 2 spare rooms is taking advantage of the system.

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littlewhitebull says...
12:22pm Wed 5 Dec 12

This is a difficult and obviously emotive subject. I hope the council approach it with due diligence - this is one area in which I don't envy them their task.
I am fortunate to own my own house, and the kids are grown up and moved away. During my working life I came across people in 'council/housing association' houses that were working hard to make ends meet, and I also met some who thought that getting out of a bed to actually work was a waste of time. These people had disabled children in their care. The differences in attitudes to the 'free' help they received were varied.
Like many other posters, I don't like paying more tax than I should have to, yet I don't object if the money collected is used wisely. All I hope is that this new scheme is applied wisely and sensibly, and each case is looked at on its merits.

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WYSIATI says...
12:53pm Wed 5 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer - do not ever vent your prejudice and try to include me in it - I pay my tax and work hard but I do not think that everyone and anyone who gets some sort of benefit is a scrounging good for nothing. If all the people you talk to think like that then you want to get out more.

I think it's a bit more complicated than that and I do not want to make many hard lives more miserable.

Many many hard working people get tax credits and benefits of some sort to help them make ends meet. Few people get nothing from the state (and those that think they do cannot see what they are getting and have no idea what it would be like to be without services).

We've royally messed up our housing provision - we systematically pay over the odds for housing and do not have proper affordable provision - and it's no accident.

Of course there are abuses and of course there are examples we can find of people doing things we don't like.

Yes let's find a way to make best use of houses and keep costs under control but that doesn't need a policy of punishing and hurting everybody. If I understand it people hold on to houses often because there is nothing ok on offer (while you are in you've got something, if you jump you risk being put down the queue or ending up with something truly dreadful - living next to hateful neighbours full of prejudice perhaps)

Fixing problems is much harder than ranting.

Very pleased to see some more measured thoughts on this thread - there's hope for us yet.

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Biomech says...
12:59pm Wed 5 Dec 12

It always baffles me when these posts arise - the amount of people on benefits / HA who, in one breath tell us how they can't afford a mortgage or to rent privately and in the second breath tell us how expensive it is on HA and how it's not that much different from renting privately - that they need several jobs to survive.

When I moved out of home I started in a bedsit with my girlfriend - it was a room with a bed in, in a corridor basically. It had shared kitchen and a shared toilet, the shower was in a cupboard. Then we got a flat on Broxash Drive for a while, then a nicer flat on Holme Lacy road. After that we started to rent a basic house in Morton On Lugg for a few years, now I rent a 3 bedroom new build on Ross Road - on my own, with one job.

By all means if you're struggling have help. But far too many people seem to think everything is owed to them, that SkyTV is a requirement, that smoke and drink.

This women has a 4 bedroom house for 2 people while a family of 6 might be living in a 1 room bedsit.

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Biomech says...
1:03pm Wed 5 Dec 12

WYSIATI - Hows this;
My old boss had worked all of his life - a long with his wife. They had a baby so his wife had to give up work for a period of time. They had to pay the rent, live and supply for a new born on one income. When he applied for a bit of help he was turned down and told he did not qualify for any help.

Yet had they lived in HA and been on benefits, having a baby would have entitled them to MORE.

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bobby47 says...
2:01pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Gang, We all come on this site to hold this Council to account for their chaotic decisions and from time to time, deliver a lot of tripe and drivel.
All threads of news are worthy of comment but lets not lose sight of this girls feelings. If Sheila is reading these things she may be hurt and I know that none of you are attacking her personally. So come on. Lets do good. Not harm.

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WYSIATI says...
2:20pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Bobby47 - well said

Biomech - yes there are plenty of examples of bad stuff out there - and there are plenty of examples where things go wrong or are badly set up and more that I don't know what exactly has happened - I am not saying it's perfect.

What I am saying is that we've allowed the mistakes to happen and the system to be set up that way so fix the system but let's not go for collective punishment.

If you want to know where the money has gone I don't think you'll find it at the bottom of the heap but more likely at the top - the 1% who take it all and pay no tax - getting a bit of that in the system would make a huge difference.

Why are we paying a lot of housing benefit - most of it ends up in the hands of the buy-to-let entrepreneurs - why is that better than paying less for council housing? Nice business if you can have it - all paid for by the taxpayers - but we shout at the tenant not the landlord why's that?

Tax evasion - taking cash and not declaring it has the same effect as cheating on the benefit - but the reaction is totally different.

Sort out the problems but don't have the wool pulled over your eyes by those who want you looking the other way

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Biomech says...
3:26pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Oh I agree it's a system of reward for nothing that is at fault. I'm not saying punish people by any means, but look at it logically, if rooms are unoccupied then the letting is not appropriate and wastage is occurring.

It's like any other business, if only half of your stock/staff/service is productive, then you're doing something wrong.

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trucking says...
3:37pm Wed 5 Dec 12

I live in a h/a house and i have a full time job and in winter a part time job as well, but i cant afford a morgage, private rent is sometimes just as expensive as a morgage, you are sometimes limited to how you can decorate and the landlord can sell when they want and you then have to find a new house, as well as a large deposit in the first place. i live in a h/a house and work, am i wrong? NO. Ive never been on the dole, ive worked since i was 13 and dont claim benifits. There are familys out there who need a large house, and i feel sorry for this lady if she has been there for years, it must be very hard to let go, but she needs a smaller house. I hope the council do this with her feelings in mind and let go where she wants to instead of forceing her into a house she hates, but it needs to be done.

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UK Taxpayer says...
7:41pm Wed 5 Dec 12

As I have originally said, I can accept genuine cases, as the government rapes us all, its not easy to get on the property ladder. What I am saying is that when you work 40+ hrs a week, never see your 8 month old son grow up, and then come home to a party of scroungers enjoying their free time, sky TV, branded clothes, new cars next door and then I cannot park outside my own house that I work hard for it makes me want to "go postal". These particular people have no respect, consideration and they should know their place in society. They are all able to work, there are plenty of jobs out there! They just chose not to. Its not right and anyone that thinks that my comments are "narrow minded" then you try and waste your life away working, to literally make ends meet, and live next door to the scum that you are funding their lavish lifestyle.

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UK Taxpayer says...
7:41pm Wed 5 Dec 12

As I have originally said, I can accept genuine cases, as the government rapes us all, its not easy to get on the property ladder. What I am saying is that when you work 40+ hrs a week, never see your 8 month old son grow up, and then come home to a party of scroungers enjoying their free time, sky TV, branded clothes, new cars next door and then I cannot park outside my own house that I work hard for it makes me want to "go postal". These particular people have no respect, consideration and they should know their place in society. They are all able to work, there are plenty of jobs out there! They just chose not to. Its not right and anyone that thinks that my comments are "narrow minded" then you try and waste your life away working, to literally make ends meet, and live next door to the scum that you are funding their lavish lifestyle.

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Dodo leDuck says...
11:51am Thu 6 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer wrote:
Biomech, you are so right, ignore Dodo leDuck's comment, I totally agree with you!
That's rather impolite of you. Just because you agree with someone else you cant just say "ignore Dodo leDuck's comment".

I am truly mortified.

Claiming to be a "UK Taxpayer", as if you are a member of a rare breeds society or the like, doesn't give you any rights over innocent ducks.

I am something quite special as well you know, with my pithy and succinct comments.

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UK Taxpayer says...
12:06pm Thu 6 Dec 12

"truly mortified"? isn't that a bit extreme.
I agreed with your comment and thought that the response from Dodo wateva was, in my opinion rubbish. Therefore I did say ignore dodo's comment, and therefore proving that I can "just say ignore dodo, etc".

I am entitled to my opinion and I do feel that I am a member of a rare breeds society, maybe I am. My opinion is valid and not just of my own. Too many "do gooders" in this place!

I have to ask, what are innocent ducks? and what does pithy and succinct mean?

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bobby47 says...
1:41pm Thu 6 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer, My friend DoDo leDuck is clearly a Poster with a view and its one I share but and I want to make this perfectly clear, if you all rally round and start giving me a kicking, I'll change my mind and take an opposite view to my friend DoDo leDuck.
And before any fool steps forward and says otherwise then let me tell you that Im King around here and I'll not have Posters being rude to one another.
That said, if you all start screaming, 'Your a fool and no King of ours', I'll agree, abdicate and join the rest of the screaming mob demanding Sheila be thrown out of her house and home and left at the mercy of the winter cold.

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Dodo leDuck says...
2:24pm Thu 6 Dec 12

google it uk and educate yourself

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UK Taxpayer says...
6:35pm Thu 6 Dec 12

King? I don't get what you are on about?

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bobby47 says...
7:21pm Thu 6 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer, And nor should you my good friend. You clearly don't know that I am King and its no wonder you're thinking, 'what in Gods name is he on about. This man's a fool'.
Entirely understandable. If I were in your shoes, which I ain't c'os they probably would'nt fit, I'd be asking the very same question.
My warmest regards to you.

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Dodo leDuck says...
10:40pm Thu 6 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer wrote:
King? I don't get what you are on about?
Its not surprising that you don't understand. You don't even know the meaning of quite ordinary English words.

You are a pompous fool if you think that being a tax payer makes you anything special.

On the other hand, my regal and good friend King Bobby shines like a beacon of wisdom in the gloom, to illuminate your dreary life.

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bobby47 says...
10:57am Fri 7 Dec 12

Yes it's a rather odd thing being King of the HT Posters.
I never wanted to be King. It's not as if when I left School I went looking for some job that had King incorporated into its job title. No I didn't want to be King at all. You'd be a fool if being King is all you wanted to do. For a starters, there are few or even no vacancies that are King related. You'd be hard pressed to stumble into the Job Centre and find a job being a King.
No, I became King purely by accident. One minute I was eating a plate of Clams and hurling insults at the Council Leadership and the next some fool Posted, 'King Bobby' and that was that. I became King of this site.
Of course being King and hanging onto the title comes at a price. I am expected to wear my Granny's clothes, Im pushed about in a handcart full of rancid melons and I am expected to deliver amusing tripe and drivel.
Thus far I've certainly nailed the tripe and drivel but of course the amusing requirement needs to be worked upon.
My very warmest regards.

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bobby47 says...
8:21pm Fri 7 Dec 12

Dodo leDuck, Be polite to my friend UK Taxpayer. We all have our opinions my good friend. Now, do as I ask and appologise to our fellow Poster.
My very warmest regards to you.

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UK Taxpayer says...
8:42pm Fri 7 Dec 12

Strange people! I'm sure we'll cross paths or posts again sometime! I can't wait!

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bobby47 says...
10:41pm Fri 7 Dec 12

UK Taxpayer, Goodness! There really is no helping you. Not only are you ignorant and rude, you show no gratitude when someone like me comes to your defence and defends you against Dodo leDuck who clearly sees you for what you are, a person who hates your neighbour and is intolerant to anyone who claims a state benefit.
My good friend, Dodo leDuck, under no circumstances apologise.

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Bongarwiran Appledurain says...
9:43am Sat 8 Dec 12

Dear oh dear, it seems that Dodo leDuck is stuck between a rock and hard place, or rather between a pompous fool and a clear nut.

Both of you, just leave him alone or he may fly over both your homes and defaecate on your washing.

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