Pilot area for benefit change (From Thisisdorset)
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Pilot area for benefit change
5:30pm Monday 3rd December 2012 in Latest
DORSEt residents are being informed about changes to the benefits system which will be made next year as part of the government’s welfare reforms.
From April 1, 2013, people receiving housing benefit who have spare bedrooms in their homes will see their benefit payments reduced by 14 per cent for one unoccupied room or by 25 per cent for two or more unoccupied rooms.
Council tax benefit will become council tax relief on this date. The entitlement to council tax benefit will be reduced for those of working age and this means that claimants will have to pay a proportion of the council tax bill.
Later in the year the government will introduce universal credit, a new single benefit payment covering housing benefit, jobseekers allowance, employment and support allowance, income support, child tax credit, working tax credit and the social fund.
North Dorset has been selected as a pilot area for universal credit.
Also changing at the same time will be the overall benefit cap, which will be linked to average earnings from April and will be £500 per week for couples and lone parent households and £350 per week for single adult households.
Harpya Orkinus says...
1:58pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Would one's library be termed a 'bedroom'? And what about reception rooms, studies or 'dens'?? "They" seem to want people to work, but think they should only earn enough to keep body & spirit together sufficiently to be able to go to work again for 'Massah' the following week - to make HIM/HER the richer !! The worker, who actually CREATES the wealth, seems not to be permitted sufficient space in which to keep whatever cargo his/her endeavors have enabled him or her to purchase. Indeed, I refer to my own wee residence as my "Semi-apartment" - so cramped it is for anyone with more than a suitcase and two sets of apparel to store ....!!