SAY NO TO THE BEDROOM TAX

The ‘under occupation penalty’ dubbed by its critics as the ‘bedroom tax’was drawn up by Lord David Freud, the government’s welfare ‘reform’ minister. It is an unfair and unjust ‘punitive measure’ solely against benefits claimants, deliberately designed to further impoverish those who are already impoverished by the government’s austerity and welfare ‘reforms’. Once again it falls on the heads of anyone who is fortunate enough to have to rely for their survival on the benefits system and live in either social housing or privately owned rented accommodation. The bedroom tax has been referred to as a ‘punitive measure’ against those on benefits who have a ‘spare’ bedroom in order to force them to downsize to smaller accommodation and free up homes for larger families, although this does not in fact extend to home owners who are in receipt of benefits. The main reason for this is because Tory governments under Margaret Thatcher forced councils to cease building social housing and to sell off most of the stock they already had. This was because homeowners tended to vote Conservative and it led to a shortage of housing stock. This policy was continued by New Labour. Employment minister Chris Grayling claims that it is impossible to justify a million spare bedrooms when there are so many families living in temporary accommodation. He said that spare rooms in council houses were a ‘luxury’ when so many children didn’t have a secure roof over their heads. However having a spare bedroom is not a ‘luxury’, it is a necessity not least for those who have carers, family members and children that come to stay with them on occasions. Welfare secretary Iain Duncan Smith claims that it is not right the some people on benefits have been able to live in homes ‘that working people cannot afford’, which I find a rather obnoxious and offensive statement coming from a man who lives in a two million pound Tudor farmhouse rent free because it is owned by his rich father-in-law the Fifth Baron of Cottesloe. From April the bedroom tax, along with the benefit cap, and the introduction of the universal credit and the effect is likely to be horrendous. Under universal credit most will be financially worse off with a reduction in the level of housing and council tax benefits. Imagine a single person on jobseekers allowance of £57 per week having to pay out £5 towards council tax, £10 towards rent and then being hit with a bedroom tax and shelling out another £10. The person would have to live on £32 a week, paying his bills, fares etc as part of their job seeking activities and then find funds for food. I don’t think it could be done and for families bringing up children it is likely to be far worse especially with the curtailment of tax credits for families with more than two children as well. National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr said that the tax punished people for trying to have a family life in homes that have lived in for years. This is true but the purpose of the bedroom tax is far more sinister as it further impoverishes the poorest in society, driving them out of their homes. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2013 :: RMTnews 26 Tenants, unions and campaigners across Britain have launched a national fightback against cuts to housing benefits and debunking the "strivers vs skivers" myth. Defend Council Housing is organising with trade unions, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and other campaign and community groups to co-ordinate action including mass protests up and down the country. The campaign particularly targets benefit caps and the reduction of council tax benefits for millions of tenants under the government's welfare reforms that come into force this year, including the "bedroom tax." From April the under-occupancy tax will penalise anyone living in social housing who has a spare bedroom by cutting 14 to 25 per cent off a claimant's housing benefit. The tax was spearheaded by Tory Lord David Freud, who The Mirror newspaper revealed owns an eight-bedroomed country mansion he uses for holidays and weekends as well as a four-bedroomed Highgate town house. And from October Universal Credit will cut benefits further for those with disabilities, households with two earners, mothers and those paying for childcare. A national link-up of campaigns, a summit and action around budget day in March were all agreed. DPAC spokesman Andy Greene stressed the importance of reaching out to the "silent majority" who "aren't necessarily political" but who are still affected by the reforms. "In all our campaigning we need to engage with people, spend time to talk to them and listen carefully to their concerns," he said. For more information go to www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk SAY NO TO THE BEDROOM TAX A RMT member warns that the Tories are attacking the poorest in society with plans to cut welfare benefits this April from those considered to have a spare bedroom ACTIVISTS LAUNCH ‘BEDROOM TAX' BATTLE