Why 'king bother?

[Rodo]

It should be borne in mind however, that this is a fallout from the years of Labour government and their continued increasing and increasing benefit payments. It had to stop somewhere, but the Labour government did nothing to establish any limits, but just kept on paying out. I agree that the Conservatives are doing some kind of blanket cutback, from which many people are going to suffer, but they did not cause this in the first place. I think this move of theirs smacks of desperation - a desperate attempt to sort it all out. It isn't good, but how can there be a better way? It is so long-standing now and so taken for granted that the state will cough up all the time and every time. The Labour party are to blame for that.

[Aggers]

I can understand you getting angry about this outrageous business.

The trouble is that this Government never seem to think things through. Hence the U-turns they have to make so often.

I'm more convinced than ever that we should all vote for UKIP next time.

[Workingman]

Something has to be done, I do not disagree with that at all, but this blanket approach never, ever, works. The data are there, use them and target the approach, as well as making general changes.

If I interrogated a database and asked for, say, all those on benefits for 10 years it would return a few. If I asked for 7 years it would give more, 5 years would give more, and so on... A pyramid of results.

If that was done a clearer picture of the problem would emerge and then it could be tackled sensibly.

[Rodo]

I agree Aggers, I am seriously thinking of voting for UKIP next time.

[Suff]

In the end the Government has to use the civil service to carry out it's choices. That is an unwieldy and blunt instrument for such fine manipulation as you are talking about WM.

Sadly I'm pretty sure such subtlety is beyond them...... Having seen the inside of the NHS in Scotland I'd say that trying to work benefits on an individual basis, inside the civil service, is like trying to play ping pong with a cricket bat.....

Nice to know that your life is being penalised and punished by the ineptitude and inflexibility of a service that you pay for isn't it.....

BTW I'd suggest going and talking to someone about an "exception", giving your reasons. It is normal practise to beat everyone with the same stick but then make exceptions where they are warranted. I've seen that too in the system and it is the kind of thing the DM reports all the time. Not the rule but the exceptions...

[medsec222]

It's UKIP for me next time as well

[Oojamaflip]

. . . It would be cheaper and more efficient in the long run to treat everyone as individuals, . . . .

That will never happen! We're Animals in the Farm: just one of a huge herd. To treat people as individuals, you've got to see the human being - not just the faceless NI, or NHS number on a page, or a certain 'sub-set' of society.

[Fugitive]

Are they really after tenants who are sub-letting these extra rooms without permissions? Sub-letting to people who aren't on the electoraI register, who have disappeared under the radar or who were never above it? I can't believe they are after residents like you WM. I know how unsettling it feels when the roof over your head is under threat.

I let a six roomed flat to a tenant a few years ago and discovered when I went to inspect for repairs that he was letting four of the rooms out as bedsits to 'invisible people' and getting a rental income four times as much as he was paying me for the whole place.

I hope this is the case as making a profit from social housing while genuine residents are feeling vulnerable is wrong.

[Workingman]

If they were going after illegal sub-letters Fugi, it would be fine, but they are not - that's not the deal.

The deal is that if you are living in a place with a spare bedroom they will lop money off. It matters not how your situation came about or whether there are alternatives for you to move to.

I have actually challenged my situation and it looks as though it will be reversed - I am waiting for the paperwork to come through. Even so, it is hassle that was not needed.

[Rodo]

Good luck with that WM