rent rise

[owre-weel]

If you get benefit paid into your bank account, and have a DD set up to pay rent, any late payment into the acount will mean late payment of rent which will create problems with the landlord, and/ or charges from the bank. Folk on the lowest level of benefits often can't even afford £6 in charges - that might me their food money for the week.

 

There are many people who cope very well with benefits - if they are sitting pretty in a secure council house, get supplementary allowances eg for disability, have IT skills and broadband access, have a good educational and work background, have a family or friend network of support, know and claim everything they are entitled to and are confident in shouting the odds about any perceived slight.

 

The problem is the group at the bottom, who have often sunk to the bottom because of an inability to cope. They literally don't have money for food sometimes, never mind luxuries like bus fares, heating, laundry or credit for the phone. It is true that we should all take responsibility for our own finance, but some folk are in a much worse position to do that, and need a hand so they don't end up on the street - which is a poor outcome for all of us.

 

Paying rent direct to the landlord encourages folk to let property - many simply would not find it worthwhile if they had to pursue folk for debts. It is only taking one piece of responsibility from the claimant - they still have to manage their budget for everything else. People who 'have' - even if they have only a little - often seem to have no ability to understand the situation of those who have less.

 

In the case of this benefit change, it is politically-driven and will lead to an even worse housing crisis, with more folk sinking to the bottom. Once you are at the bottom, it is damn hard to claw your way back up.

 

Well put Speccy, like yourself, my concern is not with the majority, who are more than capable of managing their own budgets and coping with occasional setbacks, but the minority who find it difficult and don't have the support they may require.

[Ghostrider]

Very sad that the pair of them ridicule folks who are perhaps worse of than themselves. To say that someone who cannot cope with administering their financial affairs needs to be accompanied all the time by a "minder". Sort of wonder then who they need protecting from. While they both then lead trouble free lives with out the stresses and strains others may feel or experience is is no reason to belittle those folk.

 

Peat, if, as I suspect, some of this is intended to be directed my way, clearly you are making numerous assumptions on issues you have considerably less than zero knowledge. I'm not about to broadcast to the world what my income is, but compared to what a benefit claimant receives, I cannot conceive how or why they have all these "problems" you allege occur in paying their rent, when I can manage to cover my rent from my income.

[ann257]

I totally agree with you Speccy,

I think a lot of folks don't understand the chaotic lifestyles some people live. Trying to find money for food is a big enough issue. I can imagine the distress caused to someone old and fragile who gets an evil note through the door, and if you go over drawn with the bank then disaster!!

[shetlandpeat]

There are many reasons that folk cannot cope, some have learning difficulties, others have other issues. Not everyone is as well rounded. As mentioned by Speccy, there are too many who fall off the radar, there are those who have been forced into a situation because of new rules that they have never been before. With the press and the current ConDem admin referring to folk as scroungers does not bode well if you are trying to encourage folk to help themselves.

 

 

More fool them, if someone elects to use the "lazy" option, sooner or later they'll have to pay the price for it. Any fool that hands out books of blank cheques to utilities, local authorities, government and commercial businesses deserves the fleecing they will ultimately get.

Not sure what you meant by this, though I guess you pay everything as it comes and not on a monthly basis and not through a DD or SO, though, any way of saving money will be taken by some in deals with companies.

 

Then they shouldn't be out without their minder, who SHOULD be smart enough and able enough to deal with such things, otherwise they should be living where they are looked after properly.

If folk are unable to look after their finances, is it right then they should be not left alone at any time. Seems a costly thing to do.

 

If that can cause folk stress they really need a stronger dose of Prozac or to smoke something stronger.

Then you advocate some sort of sedation or a manipulation of chemicals in the brain. Also to insinuate they are already taking illegal drugs is not really fair. Painting them with the same brush there. Not everyone is fool enough to smoke when they have little money.

 

clearly you are making numerous assumptions on issues you have considerably less than zero knowledge

As I do not know you in a personal capacity, I can only react to what is written by you.

[unlinkedstudent]

sorry unlink i must disagree.

 

With what?

 

i had experiance of growing up on benifits. if a family is on the breadline and something happens that requires cash the rent money will get spent. the reason the system was brought in was to save this happening. most people will cope but those that fall are going to suffer greatly.

 

How are they going to suffer "greatly"? Actions have consequences. It is absolutely no fun being on the breadline (Been there in the past) but have you overlooked the fact that those who do fail to pay their rent (especially if a Council Tenant) do get assistance - in the case of the SIC, there's the Housing Outreach Team. If they get behind with their rent and a pattern continues, it is part of the SIC's policy and procedures pertaining to rent arrears that not only does a Rent Arrears Officer attend but the person in arrears can also be contacted by the Housing Outreach Team. Most Local Authorities have similar procedures.

 

A simple admin change from being paid weekly of fortnightly to monthly in arrears may look like a simple admin tweek but that change will seriously hurt folks...

 

But such changes do not happen overnight. I agree that it is difficult to save up money (especially when on the breadline) in preparation for a payment date change. Take, for example, your Housing Benefit is paid fortnightly and it is getting changed to monthly. It makes no difference whether you are a Council or a Private Tenant, you can contact your Landlord and explain to them that your Housing Benefit payment date is being shifted and come to some agreement with them. No Court evicts you for being a couple of weeks behind with your rent and Landlords know this. If a Tenant has made a reasonable offer to clear any rent arrears then Courts usually politely tell a Landlord to "F off".

[unlinkedstudent]

Very sad that the pair of them ridicule folks who are perhaps worse of than themselves. To say that someone who cannot cope with administering their financial affairs needs to be accompanied all the time by a "minder". Sort of wonder then who they need protecting from. While they both then lead trouble free lives with out the stresses and strains others may feel or experience is is no reason to belittle those folk.

 

And you too can go back and read what I posted.

[ArabiaTerra]

....mhhhhh I wonder why the UK are in the financial position we are now in?

 

Errr, because the bankers in the US and London crashed the economy?

 

God you Labour people have short memories.

 

No we don't. We have long memories. We remember Thatchers Tory party asset stripping 150 years of UK industry and giving it to their friends, we remember the war declared on the unions and the millions of unemployed, we remember the fact that the most socialist period in UK history, 1945-1973, also saw the greatest rise in living standards, for all, in this countries history. A rise which stalled in 1979 and has remained stalled except for the top 1%.

 

And we see the first thing done by our new tory masters is to cut the top rate of tax while slashing billions from every social safety net in existence and we see that the tories haven't changed, not in the slightest.

[shetlandpeat]

 

And you too can go back and read what I posted.

 

It will say the same thing. If of course you have not mixed up your profiles again.

 

Any thoughts on the rent rises, the folk who went to see the GOV to remove it and how the Scottish Government is protecting folks from further rises to some housing costs both in the private and social housing. These will have an impact on the overall budget and could be reflected in the money given to Shetland by SGov. I still do not know what the problem is about the four councillors and 2 officers going south. Especially for such a cause. I wonder if any other business was done at the same time, no one has asked that yet.

[peerieivan]

Joost wasted some o me time tae check on dis thread, GR 11 posts, Ul 14 an SP a whopping 18, same old same on here, handbags at dawn noo tae wait for da abuse back

[Widworx]

....mhhhhh I wonder why the UK are in the financial position we are now in?

 

Errr, because the bankers in the US and London crashed the economy?

 

God you Labour people have short memories.

 

No we don't. We have long memories. We remember Thatchers Tory party asset stripping 150 years of UK industry and giving it to their friends, we remember the war declared on the unions and the millions of unemployed, we remember the fact that the most socialist period in UK history, 1945-1973, also saw the greatest rise in living standards, for all, in this countries history. A rise which stalled in 1979 and has remained stalled except for the top 1%.

 

And we see the first thing done by our new tory masters is to cut the top rate of tax while slashing billions from every social safety net in existence and we see that the tories haven't changed, not in the slightest.

 

I'm sure you will find that they are all as bad as each other

[unlinkedstudent]

 

And you too can go back and read what I posted.

 

It will say the same thing. If of course you have not mixed up your profiles again.

 

^ so roughly translated, you can't be bothered to go back and read what I posted. If anyone is belittling anyone here, SP, it is you. You appear to be lumping all benefit claimants together; it comes across (to me anyway) that you hold the opinion that the majority will suffer when in reality, a small percentage will suffer - and it is those requiring help looking after their financial affairs at that end of the spectrum who usually (and not always, granted) do get such assistance, as I've pointed out in my posts.

 

Would I ridicule someone for genuinely being in poverty? Absolutely not.

[unlinkedstudent]

Joost wasted some o me time tae check on dis thread, GR 11 posts, Ul 14 an SP a whopping 18, same old same on here, handbags at dawn noo tae wait for da abuse back

 

Happy New Year!

[shetlandpeat]

No mention of the rent rises then, seems to be off the sights for you, I have mentioned them quite a bit.

Much of it was about folk who may not be in "Genuine" poverty.

Many I speak with do not feel impoverished, they feel let down by the constant rubbish that comes from the mouths of the ConDems about them having to prove they are not scroungers. Standing at a rally with 10s of thousands of folk who are disabled listening to how they were told to stop scrounging and work. Believe me, many do want to be able to work, alas, they are unable.

 

Then to add a system that could see them losing up to 25% of housing benefits because they are in a house that is big enough to accommodate their needs ads insult to injury.

For some, that is an increase in their rents, out of the blue, they have to find £25-£40 a week to top up the benefit. That is why Universal Credits are being paid direct to the individual.

 

As I said, the SNP have protected the vulnerable in Scotland from this. So, all now pay rather than the few who could least afford it.

 

I still hope the delegation is successful, as soon as I get the cost for the trip, I will post it, along with the itinerary if it comes in time.

 

No need to drug anyone into compliance.

[owre-weel]

....mhhhhh I wonder why the UK are in the financial position we are now in?

 

Errr, because the bankers in the US and London crashed the economy?

 

God you Labour people have short memories.

 

No we don't. We have long memories. We remember Thatchers Tory party asset stripping 150 years of UK industry and giving it to their friends, we remember the war declared on the unions and the millions of unemployed, we remember the fact that the most socialist period in UK history, 1945-1973, also saw the greatest rise in living standards, for all, in this countries history. A rise which stalled in 1979 and has remained stalled except for the top 1%.

 

And we see the first thing done by our new tory masters is to cut the top rate of tax while slashing billions from every social safety net in existence and we see that the tories haven't changed, not in the slightest.

 

Aha... Ruffled someones feathers... Noo you might be surprised to learn that I agree with a lot of what you say. I cant stand the Torries any more than Labour as someone above just said, they are all as bad as each other.

 

But what ruffles my feathers is the view some people take, where all they do is condem one party and seem to have the blinkers on with their own. That was what my post was replying to and I was not looking for a "my parties better than yours" debate. wrong thread !!

[owre-weel]

I still do not know what the problem is about the four councillors and 2 officers going south. Especially for such a cause. I wonder if any other business was done at the same time, no one has asked that yet.

 

Pete, let me help you with that !

 

Its down to the fact that the SIC are having to make huge cut backs, whether its schools closing, roads not gritted etc, the cut backs are starting to bite. They have no choice, hard decission have to be made.

 

It therefore sticks in the back of some peoples throats when they send such a large delegation to deal with this issue, when it could have been dealt with by fewer numbers at a fraction of the cost. Simples !!