Okay , another thread made up of information scattered across others ... the dreaded interlocking again ... hardly any issue stands alone ?
Aimed at roughly half the 7.8 million of us ... in income terms , in dire straits ... hardly any will find any real help on this forum / web site as their priority is to continue to survive as best they can.
Most reading this thread will not connect with it ... yet another chasm emerging in CarerLand ... based on actual resources , including financial , available .... " I'm all right , Chris ... doesn't concern me ... thankfully ? "
Focus has been on income in virtually all postings ... time now to look at the other side of the problem ... expenditure ... and , in this context , the REAL essentials to survive.
It all also ties in with some work I'm doing locally ... following the UC rollout and it's effect on the letting market.
Two forms of expenditure stand out like lighthouses ... immediate threats ... both go way beyond CarerLand but I shall concentrate on the effects on us.
COUNCIL TAX ( CT ) ... a regressive tax ... income wise , the less you have , in percentage terms , the more you pay ... possibly worse that Thatcher's Poll Tax which it replaced.
A problem all along but , with recent rises due to " Social care " being funded by CT , nationwide , the impact at the lower end ( Street level ) has been catastrophic ... just on my manor alone , now 3 in 7 officially in arrears ... increasing at a greater rate with each nudge higher.
LA needs a rise of , say , 6% ... with likely non recoverable arrears factored in , actual rise may be 7 / 8% !!!
A couple of recent postings confirm what's happening ... my fear is further rises via the Green Paper ... more monies needed like trying to fight a major fire with just a bucket ... which will really bite millions with little surplus in their current fiances.
LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE ( LHA ) / HOUSING BENEFIT ( HB ) ... a brief explanation of each to set the scene :
( LHA online calculator for the curious amongst you ... try it on your manor ... then have a look at what's available to let :
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx
The results will surprise ... even shock ... you ! )
The problem ?
LHA has been frozen by the Government ... demand for housing constantly exceeds supplies ... rents are rising almost nationwide ... the GAP between LHA and the current rental levels has grown ... in some areas exploded ... leaving many millions of low earners needing to find monies , many for the first time , to keep a roof over their heads.
This issue was kicked upstairs prior to the Annual Survey this year as it was a major problem in many poorer areas ... CUK needed to be aware of what was actually happening at Street Level ... asking more prosperous members would not have reveal any problem at all !
SUMMARY
The forthcoming Green Rizla Paper ... any prospect of either of these issues being addressed ?
Only the CT one IF the Government change direction , and fund social care through GENERAL taxation ... a much fairer system based on one's ability to pay ... won't go down well with our Joe / Jo Public but ... will then mirror image how funding for the NHS is raised !
As for LHA / HB ... the real joker on the pack ... bearing in mind the 2 in 5 of the current batch of mps in the House have declared interests in BTL properties ... the landlords enjoy a vast chunk of the HB being paid over by the LAs !
" To Eat or to Heat , that is not a question , it is a choice ! "
To that we must add " Or to keep a roof of some sort over one's head " ... the ESSENTIALS to survive for anyone in today's Sad New World.
Both " Problems " are too real ... and , when combined , will continue to have a deadly impact.
Needless to add ... UC ...warned all for over a year ... try getting a landlord to even let a property if you are caught by UC !
Just ask Trussells !
Aimed at roughly half the 7.8 million of us ... in income terms , in dire straits ... hardly any will find any real help on this forum / web site as their priority is to continue to survive as best they can.
Most reading this thread will not connect with it ... yet another chasm emerging in CarerLand ... based on actual resources , including financial , available .... " I'm all right , Chris ... doesn't concern me ... thankfully ? "
Focus has been on income in virtually all postings ... time now to look at the other side of the problem ... expenditure ... and , in this context , the REAL essentials to survive.
It all also ties in with some work I'm doing locally ... following the UC rollout and it's effect on the letting market.
Two forms of expenditure stand out like lighthouses ... immediate threats ... both go way beyond CarerLand but I shall concentrate on the effects on us.
COUNCIL TAX ( CT ) ... a regressive tax ... income wise , the less you have , in percentage terms , the more you pay ... possibly worse that Thatcher's Poll Tax which it replaced.
A problem all along but , with recent rises due to " Social care " being funded by CT , nationwide , the impact at the lower end ( Street level ) has been catastrophic ... just on my manor alone , now 3 in 7 officially in arrears ... increasing at a greater rate with each nudge higher.
LA needs a rise of , say , 6% ... with likely non recoverable arrears factored in , actual rise may be 7 / 8% !!!
A couple of recent postings confirm what's happening ... my fear is further rises via the Green Paper ... more monies needed like trying to fight a major fire with just a bucket ... which will really bite millions with little surplus in their current fiances.
LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE ( LHA ) / HOUSING BENEFIT ( HB ) ... a brief explanation of each to set the scene :
SHELTER
What is local housing allowance (LHA)?
Local housing allowance (LHA) is used to work out how much housing benefit you can get if you rent your home from a private landlord.
If you rent from a council or housing association or have a shared ownership home, different rules are used to calculate your housing benefit.
LHA has many of the same rules as housing benefit, but there are some extra rules that limit the amount of help you can get for a private rented home.
LHA is usually paid direct to you rather than to your landlord.
( LHA online calculator for the curious amongst you ... try it on your manor ... then have a look at what's available to let :
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx
The results will surprise ... even shock ... you ! )
SHELTER
What is housing benefit?
Housing benefit is a regular council payment to help pay your rent. You may be eligible for housing benefit if you are on a low income or claiming benefits.
What housing benefit pays for
Housing benefit helps pay for rent and some types of service charges.
It doesn't help with water charges, care or support costs or most heating charges.
Housing benefit doesn't cover mortgage payments.
Who can claim housing benefit
Housing benefit is for people who rent their homes or who part-rent through shared ownership.
You must be on a low income or claiming benefits. Your savings must be below £16,000, unless you are getting pension credit (guarantee credit part).
You or your partner can claim housing benefit. It doesn't matter which of you is named on the tenancy agreement.
You may not be able to claim if you pay rent to a family member.
The problem ?
LHA has been frozen by the Government ... demand for housing constantly exceeds supplies ... rents are rising almost nationwide ... the GAP between LHA and the current rental levels has grown ... in some areas exploded ... leaving many millions of low earners needing to find monies , many for the first time , to keep a roof over their heads.
This issue was kicked upstairs prior to the Annual Survey this year as it was a major problem in many poorer areas ... CUK needed to be aware of what was actually happening at Street Level ... asking more prosperous members would not have reveal any problem at all !
SUMMARY
The forthcoming Green Rizla Paper ... any prospect of either of these issues being addressed ?
Only the CT one IF the Government change direction , and fund social care through GENERAL taxation ... a much fairer system based on one's ability to pay ... won't go down well with our Joe / Jo Public but ... will then mirror image how funding for the NHS is raised !
As for LHA / HB ... the real joker on the pack ... bearing in mind the 2 in 5 of the current batch of mps in the House have declared interests in BTL properties ... the landlords enjoy a vast chunk of the HB being paid over by the LAs !
" To Eat or to Heat , that is not a question , it is a choice ! "
To that we must add " Or to keep a roof of some sort over one's head " ... the ESSENTIALS to survive for anyone in today's Sad New World.
Both " Problems " are too real ... and , when combined , will continue to have a deadly impact.
Needless to add ... UC ...warned all for over a year ... try getting a landlord to even let a property if you are caught by UC !
Just ask Trussells !