Reaction to benefit cuts that may force hundreds of North Lincolnshire people to leave their homes
Council officials are aiming to reduce the possibility of up to 1,700 housing association tenants being forced to leave their homes.
Almost a fifth of tenants in North Lincolnshire Homes' 9,700 homes could be forced to consider downsizing due to a wave of benefit cuts planned by the Government.
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Lennie Pearson, left, and Pete Woodcock, chairman of the new Westcliff Residents’ Association, who are concerned about what the Welfare Reform Act will mean to people living on benefits
Planned changes to benefit payments next year under the Welfare Reform Bill will see a total household benefit cap of £500 a week.
Under-occupancy penalties for working age social housing tenants with spare bedrooms are also planned.
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Some benefits currently being channelled to landlords will also soon be paid directly to tenants.
Mark Sherwood, North Lincolnshire Council's housing strategy and policy team manager, said the authority was looking to help limit the impact on tenants.
He said: "The Welfare Reform Bill could mean 1,700 tenants will need to move if they cannot afford the top-up for the rent.
"We don't want to get to the stage where the housing benefits don't pay for the rent and people get into debt.
"We are doing what we can to make sure nobody gets evicted.
"All the housing associations are contacting those individuals who might be affected."
Pete Woodcock, chairman of the New Westcliff Residents' Association in Scunthorpe, said he supported some benefit cuts but argued the planned changes would go too far.
He said: "The biggest thing I am against is paying money directly to tenants, rather than the landlord.
"There will be people on the estate who will spend the money on other things. This bill will create major problems for landlords and people will have to save money as they go along."
Lennie Pearson, a North Lincolnshire Homes tenant from Wootton Court in Scunthorpe, said: "It will be tempting for people to spend the money on other things.
"I disagree with the extra bedroom tax they are putting on. I think this will affect a lot of people."
North Lincolnshire Homes has set up a financial inclusion team to help tenants with the changes.
John Lawrence, head of housing management at the housing association, said: "Welfare reform is a hot potato at the moment, particularly for social landlords and their tenants.
"It could potentially have a devastating effect for some families who are already struggling to pay their rent – seeing their benefits reduced even further.
"Our job is to help people prepare as much as they can for the changes. We don't want people to panic, we want to help them stay in their homes but our message is clear. They need to look at what they can afford so that they don't start building up rent arrears."
The new under-occupation rules do not affect people of pension age.
Comments
by dog-tired
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 6:55PM
“£500 a week how do i apply we both work full-time 100hours a week between us and our joint take home pay is half that. we can't brand all benefit claimants spongers as i know a few who would be happy to get a job if there were any, but they don't receive anything in the region of £200 a week never mind £500”
by englander61
Friday, September 21 2012, 7:19PM
“People should be means tested and only allowed this type of accommodation if earning less that a agreed amount , as for been down graded to less rooms when family have flown the coup of course they should ,That is a benefit of working and buying your own house its yours for life and you have earnt the right to stay in it , you have had to pay out to keep it in good order .”
by Brian_Potter3
Thursday, September 20 2012, 2:34PM
“Soz!”
by HarryWorth
Thursday, September 20 2012, 10:25AM
“But Mertheman, by virtue of the massive amount of income tax and council tax I pay, I do "help out" the poor and the elderly – in a much more useful way than making them a cup of tea occasionally.
With regard to the working aged malingerers and terminally bone idle:
It warms my heart to know that my hard earned money is so kindly invested for me, by the Government, to help keep these "needy" people in the lifestyle which they believe they deserve – spending the days sipping cheap lager watching satellite TV on the biggest flat screen televisions, nipping out occasionally (usually in their slippers) for a packet of fags and some scratch cards.
Still, can't begrudge them that – since they have to do something to fill the idle workless hours between Jeremy Kyle and Countdown.”
by Sparks2400
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:42AM
“Peter Woodcock always seems to pop up in the news either in the ST or chatting to Peter Levy.
As I see it, he always looks to be taking care of community interests and helping others.
He should be the first nominated for the North Lincolnshire Community Champion Awards as far as I'm concerned.”
by Porkmiester
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:08AM
“Potter, check YOUR own punctuation first!”
by mertheman
Thursday, September 20 2012, 8:36AM
“brainless and harry , why bad mouth people, is this the only pass time you have. you sad people.
i would rather know a bad speller who is loved by all, who is a asset to any community(lennie) instead of bad mouthing socity misfits like you. If you were half the person Lennie or Peter are you may become something. when was the last time you helped out a eldrly person without asking for anything back.”
by HarryWorth
Thursday, September 20 2012, 6:18AM
“....or engaging with the public, judging by the hair colour and dress sense.”
by Brian_Potter3
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 8:42PM
“@lennie
I'm guessing you're job doesn't involve reading or writing judging by the spelling and punctuation in you're post?!”
by lennie
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 5:24PM
“by all your comments you havent read the story rite,,,,dosnt say any thing that i dnt work so il put you all rite yes i do work over 40 hrs a week,i pay full rent and full council tax,, DO YOU ?,,,,, so this will not effect me ,,,,,and if i wish to buy hair dye i will,”