U-turn on new bedroom tax celebrated

“Bedroom tax” critics have welcomed a partial u-turn on plans to cut benefits to social housing tenants for having empty rooms.

The Government will introduce the new policy, which will affect 7,000 people in Sussex, from April 1.

But, just weeks before it comes into force, welfare secretary Iain Duncan-Smith said about 5,000 approved foster carers who have taken a child into their care in the last 12 months will now be exempt.

Parents whose children live at home but are away on operations with the armed forces will also not be charged for their child’s “spare bedroom”, as long as their offspring intend to return home.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: “The eleventh hour decision to exempt foster carers and families with children in the armed forces from the new bedroom tax is a huge win for social justice – and a sign that the Government is beginning to recognise just how flawed and unfair this policy is.

“However, ministers should now go further and exempt disabled people too in order to protect the most vulnerable.”

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Comments(16)

lillylou says...
11:13am Thu 14 Mar 13

Shame he dont stop picking on single parants too

Man With No Name says...
12:14pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Why is it a shame? They don't write good innit.

GIVE UP says...
1:47pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Maybe I've got it wrong, but l can't see that they've done a u-turn

mimseycal says...
2:55pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Well, a sort of u-turn is better then no u-turn at all. Foster parents are exempt and the parents of serving MOD personnel are exempt; both with certain qualifications but it is still better then a kick in the teeth. That is a starting point anyway ...

getThisCoalitionOut says...
4:29pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.

Plantpot says...
5:05pm Thu 14 Mar 13

getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
Interestingly, those well-known defenders of the poor, the Millibands have also worked the system - see below:

http://www.guardian.
co.uk/commentisfree/
2010/oct/09/ed-milib
and-journalists-in-g
lass-houses

http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/politics
/ed-miliband/9587363
/Millionaire-Miliban
d-challenged-again-o
ver-true-wealth.html

salty_pete says...
7:16pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I'm not at all convinced that a reduction in benefit should be called a tax.

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
7:30pm Thu 14 Mar 13

getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right.

Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!

wippasnapper says...
8:16pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Somethingsarejustwro
ng
wrote:
getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right.

Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!
Great news that we are cutting benefits... One day you may have to rely on benefits to support your family & no matter how hard you have worked or how much you have paid in to support every one ells over the years will make a dam differents to this government or people just like you who seem to think people like use are just scroungers or lazy bums who dote want to work – well for one all you pillocks who have that attitude towards those on benefits not all of use can work duo to ill health or disability… I for one do not disagree that those on unemployment should have there benefits cut to encourage them they would be better off in work I would have welcomed it when I was able to work but punishing the ill and disabled is WRONG. I have worked most of my life; I have paid taxes, NI, now I’m being made to suffer for being ill and disabled… lets hope you never have to rely on benefits for ill health or disability!

Pikey-Biker says...
9:40am Fri 15 Mar 13

This country cannot afford the massive amount that we pay out in benefits . I do believe if we manage to get those off of benefits who CAN work then there would be more for those who genuinely need it.

mimseycal says...
10:14am Fri 15 Mar 13

****-Biker wrote:
This country cannot afford the massive amount that we pay out in benefits . I do believe if we manage to get those off of benefits who CAN work then there would be more for those who genuinely need it.
What this country cannot afford are the tax loop holes, the tax dodges and the tax cuts for the rich.

Pikey-Biker says...
10:26am Fri 15 Mar 13

mimseycal wrote:
****-Biker wrote: This country cannot afford the massive amount that we pay out in benefits . I do believe if we manage to get those off of benefits who CAN work then there would be more for those who genuinely need it.
What this country cannot afford are the tax loop holes, the tax dodges and the tax cuts for the rich.
Yes those as well

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
9:16pm Fri 15 Mar 13

wippasnapper wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng
wrote:
getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right.

Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!
Great news that we are cutting benefits... One day you may have to rely on benefits to support your family & no matter how hard you have worked or how much you have paid in to support every one ells over the years will make a dam differents to this government or people just like you who seem to think people like use are just scroungers or lazy bums who dote want to work – well for one all you pillocks who have that attitude towards those on benefits not all of use can work duo to ill health or disability… I for one do not disagree that those on unemployment should have there benefits cut to encourage them they would be better off in work I would have welcomed it when I was able to work but punishing the ill and disabled is WRONG. I have worked most of my life; I have paid taxes, NI, now I’m being made to suffer for being ill and disabled… lets hope you never have to rely on benefits for ill health or disability!
The thing is...If we stop the masses claiming and relying on benefits then we can afford looking after those who really do need our support.

Additionally, what we could do is include a mechanism in the tax process where the first x% of tax aid gets allocated to buy medical insurance. That way those who put in, get to take out.

Simple really!

mimseycal says...
9:41pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Somethingsarejustwro
ng
wrote:
wippasnapper wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro


ng
wrote:
getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right.

Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!
Great news that we are cutting benefits... One day you may have to rely on benefits to support your family & no matter how hard you have worked or how much you have paid in to support every one ells over the years will make a dam differents to this government or people just like you who seem to think people like use are just scroungers or lazy bums who dote want to work – well for one all you pillocks who have that attitude towards those on benefits not all of use can work duo to ill health or disability… I for one do not disagree that those on unemployment should have there benefits cut to encourage them they would be better off in work I would have welcomed it when I was able to work but punishing the ill and disabled is WRONG. I have worked most of my life; I have paid taxes, NI, now I’m being made to suffer for being ill and disabled… lets hope you never have to rely on benefits for ill health or disability!
The thing is...If we stop the masses claiming and relying on benefits then we can afford looking after those who really do need our support.

Additionally, what we could do is include a mechanism in the tax process where the first x% of tax aid gets allocated to buy medical insurance. That way those who put in, get to take out.

Simple really!
The words of a poem are ringing in my ears ... Good ol' Pastor Niemoller,

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:55am Sat 16 Mar 13

mimseycal wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng
wrote:
wippasnapper wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro



ng
wrote:
getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right.

Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!
Great news that we are cutting benefits... One day you may have to rely on benefits to support your family & no matter how hard you have worked or how much you have paid in to support every one ells over the years will make a dam differents to this government or people just like you who seem to think people like use are just scroungers or lazy bums who dote want to work – well for one all you pillocks who have that attitude towards those on benefits not all of use can work duo to ill health or disability… I for one do not disagree that those on unemployment should have there benefits cut to encourage them they would be better off in work I would have welcomed it when I was able to work but punishing the ill and disabled is WRONG. I have worked most of my life; I have paid taxes, NI, now I’m being made to suffer for being ill and disabled… lets hope you never have to rely on benefits for ill health or disability!
The thing is...If we stop the masses claiming and relying on benefits then we can afford looking after those who really do need our support.

Additionally, what we could do is include a mechanism in the tax process where the first x% of tax aid gets allocated to buy medical insurance. That way those who put in, get to take out.

Simple really!
The words of a poem are ringing in my ears ... Good ol' Pastor Niemoller,
Sadly we can't rely on scholars, theorists and pastors to make the right decisions to lead us out of the mess that Brown, Blair and their inept chums got us in to.

Pikey-Biker says...
11:06am Mon 18 Mar 13

mimseycal wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro ng wrote:
wippasnapper wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro ng wrote:
getThisCoalitionOut wrote: I'd like to see IDS sacked for what he's doing to disabled and sick people in this country AND the rest of this disgusting government that keep reducing benefits to the poorest people in the UK but still have a subsidised canteen and bars at the Houses of Parliament. Have they taken a pay cut NO they've given themselves an enormous pay rise, they are still ripping us all off with their expenses claims - they should be done for treason after caMORON promised to stop the tax loop holes that his own father used but he still hasn't - now that would bring an end to all the problems but the conservatives aren't into solving problems for the majority, they only work to make the rich, richer.
If you are moaning then we now that the underlying action is right. Great news that we are cutting benefits...might even encourage people receiving them to go to work to actually earn a living!
Great news that we are cutting benefits... One day you may have to rely on benefits to support your family & no matter how hard you have worked or how much you have paid in to support every one ells over the years will make a dam differents to this government or people just like you who seem to think people like use are just scroungers or lazy bums who dote want to work – well for one all you pillocks who have that attitude towards those on benefits not all of use can work duo to ill health or disability… I for one do not disagree that those on unemployment should have there benefits cut to encourage them they would be better off in work I would have welcomed it when I was able to work but punishing the ill and disabled is WRONG. I have worked most of my life; I have paid taxes, NI, now I’m being made to suffer for being ill and disabled… lets hope you never have to rely on benefits for ill health or disability!
The thing is...If we stop the masses claiming and relying on benefits then we can afford looking after those who really do need our support. Additionally, what we could do is include a mechanism in the tax process where the first x% of tax aid gets allocated to buy medical insurance. That way those who put in, get to take out. Simple really!
The words of a poem are ringing in my ears ... Good ol' Pastor Niemoller,
And what does an anti Nazi theologist have to do with this story?

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