From April 2013 Housing Benefits change, a person living on their own in a two bedroomed house will have the amount paid reduced by 14% if you have a three bedroom house by 25%.
It seems to me to be a little bit harsh and perhaps not all that well thoughtout.
Personally this will mean that if I choose to stay in this property I will lose approx £10 per week towards my rent, O.K. if a person is prepared to move into a one bedroomed property they will assist in finding a property, will there be enough single bedroomed places to go around? I doubt it.
I moved into this place back in 2007 when my house was bought for demolision, at the time I asked about a one bedroomed dwelling and was told the Council preferred to keep such properties for the disabled, I was offered the choice of three, two bedroomed houses, therefore it's hardly my fault that I have a spare bedroom. Why should I now be penalised for a move that wasn't even my choice?
Whenever I have a letter reviewing my benefits it is emphasised that I am on the MINIMUM amount allowed by law to survive, So where exactly am I supposed to find this extra £10?
I wonder how many people this new idea is going to affect and how much worry and hardship it will create?
If by magic, I can suddenly be offered a one bedroomed replacement for this house, why wasn't it offered 5 years ago when I asked for it?
I wonder, will there be some sort of appeal system in place? After all there was no objection to the my occupying a house with two bedrooms before so why should there be one now?
