New 'bedroom tax' will affect 30,000 people in Devon and Cornwall
People in the South West hit by the so-called "bedroom tax" will lose around £780 a year – the biggest reduction outside of London.
The Government's impact assessment of the penalty levied on people on housing benefit if they have a spare room will affect around 30,000 people in the wider South West.
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They will each be stripped of £15 a week on average – the same as residents in the South East and East.
Only people residing in London will be hit harder – losing £21 a week or £1,092 a year on average.
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Labour MP and former South West Minister Ben Bradshaw hit out at the policy that will mean people looking after disabled family members will be hit but those with a relative in jail will not. But Westcountry Conservative MP Mel Stride said the under-occupancy penalty was justified as housing benefit costs "spiralled" when Labour was in charge.
Labour yesterday launched its campaign against the legislation – which will come into force in April at the same time as the Government is giving 13,000 millionaires a tax cut worth £100,000 a year, the party says.
Under the Government's proposals, people in social housing will receive a cut in housing benefit where they are deemed to have spare bedrooms.
Ministers hotly dispute the term "bedroom tax" – arguing it is not a "tax" but a partial withdrawal of a state hand-out.
The Government figures, which have only recently emerged, are the only official estimates of how the region will be affected.
Previously, the National Housing Federation calculated 9,230 households in Devon and Cornwall will be subject to an under-occupation penalty.
Mr Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, said: "People with a disabled or sick family member or a son or daughter serving in the armed forces will be penalised but those with one in jail will not.
"In most places, including Exeter, there is simply not enough smaller social housing properties for people to move to, so they'll be forced to pay the extra when their budgets are already extremely stretched."
But Mr Stride, Conservative MP for Central Devon, said: "This is not a 'tax' but the removal of benefits for excess rooms that others on the housing waiting list are desperate for. It is also a recognition that housing benefit costs under Labour spiralled out of control."
In the Commons yesterday, Education Secretary Michael Gove branded Labour a "crew of socialist wreckers" as he issued a staunch defence of the plan.
Mr Gove maintained the move was "timely and necessary action" to deal with "out of control" welfare bills.
He claimed that while in power Labour introduced "no effective" welfare reform policies.
His comments came after Labour's Helen Goodman argued separated parents would be penalised by the policy.
Speaking during Commons education questions, she said: "The 'bedroom tax' will penalise non-resident parents who keep a room so their children can come and stay with them on a regular basis."
42 Comments
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by Dangerman
Sunday, March 10 2013, 3:38PM
“Oh how easy it is for the right wing Tory's to brainwash the British into believing what they are told.
13 years of Thatcherism under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Britain is finished.”
by Dangerman
Sunday, March 10 2013, 3:36PM
“Charlespk, a man still living in the victorian era, he should go to a food bank and see what the Tories like doing to the vulnerable poor.
And does mr Charlespk like the fan that Atos are forcing disabled people to suicide ?”
by Dangerman
Sunday, March 10 2013, 3:33PM
“eu_blues. We never had 13 years of a Labour Government. We had 13 years of a "New" Labour Government continuing Thatcher's right wing low income tax free market agenda
But we musnt let the facts, get in the way of a myth or two, must we!”
by theyoungjane
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:54PM
“For a summary of the legal arguments in the current case brought by several disabled adults and children on the under-occupancy penalty, see http://tinyurl.com/c5y8kl4”
by Charlespk
Thursday, March 07 2013, 6:37PM
“I have NOT lumped carers in with people who refuse to work.
And I'm not interested in your opinions.
I repeat: I know more about this subject than you will ever know.
And I have no intention of explaining why.
I said to Crueys. quote:- "if the 'little man's' guardian's assets were below the threshold; otherwise you are singing from the same 'song-sheet' as me." (help gets paid for if they are)
I then said, "This is about what you've been brought up to believe are the 'State's' responsibilities and why Socialism has created a dependency mind state in large sections of the population that is basically unsustainable."
"in large sections of the population". An indisputable fact.
Goodbye.”
by omnivore23
Thursday, March 07 2013, 5:10PM
“Charles -
Just so we can be clear - I am saying you are WRONG to lump carers in with people who refuse to work - it is a totally different issue from the "dependence culture", about which you might be surprised to learn I am in some agreement with you.
That, by the way is my opinion - to which I am sure you will agree I am entitled, as are you to yours.
By the way - Having a different viewpoint from you - or daring to ask you to back up your opinions does not make me a stalker Charles, whilst "reporting" people simply because their views differ from yours and you have painted yourself into a corner (again) does carry the faint the whiff of the cowardly bully.
By all means ignore my posts, though I'm sure you are aware that "I am much more intelligent than you therefore I am right and I am not going to talk to you AND tell teacher" is not exactly a crushing coup de grace for anyone over the age of six.”
by Charlespk
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:24PM
“You are again trying to put words into my mouth.
I have nothing to say to you.
Learn to read.”
by omnivore23
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:29AM
“Crueys already said she claimed no benefits Charles - what is wrong with you that you feel the need to lecture and patronise her.
So Charles - what would your advice be to someone of working age faced with the prospect of an ageing mother with dementia...
Ignore the situation ? Let her go into a home? or care for her yourself...which will mean giving up work?
....and if they choose the latter - Should they be entitled to carers allowance or not?
In lumping in hard-working carers with others that claim benefits while able to work you do your dependency-culture argument no favours.
......and please don't go on about how it was done before "socialism". Most people did not live long enough to get dementia before the arrival of the NHS - and those that did were invariably cared for in hideous long-stay psycho-geriatric wards or mental asylums - which were mostly closed, and rightly so, by Conservative governments in the 1980s.
You are wrong about this.”
by Charlespk
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:18AM
“@Crueys
Your little grandson (little man) was poorly wasn't he. . 24/7 care needed you say (young children do). . You or he were then or should have been provided with state care (albeit not as much as you felt was required), if the 'little man's' guardian's assets were below the threshold; otherwise you are singing from the same 'song-sheet' as me. .
This is about what you've been brought up to believe are the 'State's' responsibilities and why Socialism has created a dependency mind state in large sections of the population that is basically unsustainable.”
by Crueys
Thursday, March 07 2013, 2:15AM
“Charlespk.....Sorry to come back but I was not babysitting I was sharing care for a very poorly little man who needed 24/7 care..... so we as a family saved this country thousands of pounds because we loved him and wanted to care for him...... if every carer gave up and placed their loved ones in care this country would be bankcrupt for sure......and MisterDonut I have had a very rewarding life in many ways ...... you might be surprised if you knew.... and why do I have to be a socialist because of how I feel . wrong again ......”