Showing posts with label Financial Scarcity. Show all posts
How Iain Duncan Smith lives – compared with people who must live his policies by Kate Belgrave
How Iain Duncan Smith lives – compared with people who must live his policies by Kate Belgrave
Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Here’s Iain Duncan Smith’s weekend place, which was occupied last year by UK Uncut and Disabled People Against Cuts in a protest against the bedroom tax. It’s a very nice pile indeed. It comes with a tennis court, the sort of lake that Mr Darcy might emerge from in clinging pants, happy lambs and a very large house. Very. If you must lie around somewhere thinking of ways to piss the rest of the exchequer away on Universal Credit, then this is the place to do it:
For more click here: How Iain Duncan Smith lives – compared with people who must live his policies by Kate Belgrave
Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Here’s Iain Duncan Smith’s weekend place, which was occupied last year by UK Uncut and Disabled People Against Cuts in a protest against the bedroom tax. It’s a very nice pile indeed. It comes with a tennis court, the sort of lake that Mr Darcy might emerge from in clinging pants, happy lambs and a very large house. Very. If you must lie around somewhere thinking of ways to piss the rest of the exchequer away on Universal Credit, then this is the place to do it:
For more click here: How Iain Duncan Smith lives – compared with people who must live his policies by Kate Belgrave
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face
diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com - Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Since the coalition came to power, sick and disabled people have claimed we are being fundamentally harmed by the coalition welfare reforms. Not scroungers or skivers, but people living with long term serious illnesses like me, or who live with physical disabilities. Adults AND children. Young and old. People with terminal conditions, people with kidney or heart failure, people waiting for transplants and even people in comas. None have been spared. The government repeatedly assure you they have.
The government have of course denied that they are putting an unreasonable share of austerity cuts on us. Repeatedly and often aggressively. This is how they respond to the UN of all people :
Since 2011, almost every main voice involved in the services and systems that support sick and disabled people have argued that we must know how all of the changes TOGETHER have affected us so particularly.
Everything we rely on has been cut severely - in some cases by up to 40%. Disability benefits, sickness benefits, social care services, housing support, legal aid for tribunals, respite care, the independent living fund, council tax relief, higher education funding, everything.
It is very possible that if you were affected by one of the changes, you were affected by several or even all of them.
Whilst the government paid lip service to assessing what impact their reforms would have on sick and disabled people, they only did so one by one. They always claimed it was impossible to assess them all together and specifically, how they would affect disabled people when combined.
It has been a long and dishonest journey. As with so many things, the government have done everything in their power to keep the figures from the public.
They said that it wasn't possible despite a petition gathering over 100,000 signatures calling for what they called a "cumulative impact assessment" or CIA.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154 (Scroll down for gov response)
The government treated the debate it generated in parliament - a debate sick and disabled people themselves worked so hard for - like a Punch and Judy show of partisan nonsense. You can watch it for yourself if you click on the following link :
For more click here:
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face
diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com
Bedroom tax impact on grant allocations
Bedroom tax impact on grant allocations
Picture above displayed by Street Democracy UK.
Housing providers have warned that the government is ‘storing up future problems’ because more than three-quarters of its grant funding programme will be used for the development of one and two-bedroom homes.
Of the 62,000 homes to be developed with the 2015-18 affordable housing grant allocation, 77% will be one and two-bedroom properties after the government requested that providers focus on smaller-sized properties.
The allocation has been widely interpreted as a reaction to under-occupying tenants needing to downsize to avoid the bedroom tax.
Melanie Rees, policy and practice officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: ‘It is quite short-termist, and a response to a policy that may not be around in eight months’ time, depending on the outcome of the election.’
Karen Buck, the parliamentary private secretary to Labour leader Ed Miliband and a member of the work and pensions select committee that scrutinised the bedroom tax before it was passed, said: ‘[The government] should be trying to provide for housing need in all parts of the country, not floundering around with a knee-jerk reaction to one specific policy.’
‘It was warned that there weren’t enough small houses for the policy to work during the passage of the bill, but the warning was rejected.’
Housing providers told Inside Housing that civil servants from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had contacted them to scrutinise why they had included bids for funding to build family-sized homes.
For more click here for Inside Housing:
Bedroom tax impact on grant allocations
The Shock Doctrine
‘An investigation of “disaster capitalism”, based on Naomi Klein’s proposition that neo-liberal capitalism feeds on natural disasters, war and terror to establish its dominance.’
Stamp duty: millions more being dragged into tax trap
Stamp duty: millions more being dragged into tax trap
‘The number of households being forced to pay higher rates of stamp duty has more than doubled in the past decade, according to new figures.
The boom in property prices means that a quarter of homebuyers are paying stamp duty of 3 per cent or more, up from just one in 10 in 2003.
The disclosure coincided with government statistics that showed families paid a total of £3.4 billion in inheritance taxes last year, the most since the onset of the financial crisis.’
British taxpayers help fund £20billion EU handout to struggling Portugal
British taxpayers help fund £20billion EU handout to struggling Portugal
‘Fury erupted today after the EU gifted cash-strapped Portugal a £20 billion handout to help boost its crumbling economy.
Most of the money will be spent on training and education in a bid to cut rampant unemployment and revive Portuguese economic fortunes by the end of the decade.
Critics warned it means British taxpayers’ will be effectively forking out up to £2.7 billion over the next seven years to help prop up one of Europe’s basket case nations.’
Tories and Lib Dems engineer fastest fall in wages since Victorian times by Mike Sivier
Tories and Lib Dems engineer fastest fall in wages since Victorian timesby Mike Sivier Pictures displayed by Street Democracy UK
David Cameron must be so proud. He wanted a return to the Victorian era and that is exactly what he has achieved. Wages have nosedived, meaning the gap between the richest and poorest is larger than it has ever been; we already know that diseases once thought long-gone are stalking our streets once again while the […]
|
Confirmed – The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face by samedifference1
Confirmed – The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face
by samedifference1 Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Cross posted from here at the request of Sue Marsh.
"Since the coalition came to power, sick and disabled people have claimed we are being fundamentally harmed by the coalition welfare reforms. Not scroungers or skivers, but people living with long term serious illnesses like me, or who live with physical disabilities. Adults AND children. Young and old. People with terminal conditions, people with kidney or heart failure, people waiting for transplants and even people in comas. None have been spared. The government repeatedly assure you they have.
The government have of course denied that they are putting an unreasonable share of austerity cuts on us. Repeatedly and often aggressively. This is how they resound to the UN of all people :
Since 2011, almost every main voice involved in the services and systems that support sick and disabled people have argued that we must know how all of the changes TOGETHER have affected us so particularly.
Everything we rely on has been cut severely - in some cases by up to 40%. Disability benefits, sickness benefits, social care services, housing support, legal aid for tribunals, respite care, the independent living fund, council tax relief, higher education funding, everything.
It is very possible that if you were affected by one of the changes, you were affected by several or even all of them.
Whilst the government paid lip service to assessing what impact their reforms would have on sick and disabled people, they only did so one by one. They always claimed it was impossible to assess them all together and specifically, how they would affect disabled people when combined.
It has been a long and dishonest journey. As with so many things, the government have done everything in their power to keep the figures from the public.
They said that it wasn't possible despite a petition gathering over 100,000 signatures calling for what they called a "cumulative impact assessment" or CIA.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.
The government treated the debate it generated in parliament - a debate sick and disabled people themselves worked so hard for - like a Punch and Judy show of partisan nonsense. You can watch it for yourself if you click on the following link :
They said it wasn't "robust" when both the very well respected Dr Simon Duffy from the Centre for Welfare Rerform and the equally well respected think tank Demos produced models they believed were viable.
And finally, just 2 days ago, Lord Freud, the failed millionaire ex-banker who re-designed our entire welfare system in just 3 weeks, wrote an official response to the SSAC, the government's own Social Security Advisory Committee, who also called for a CIA relating to disability, confirming yet again, that he believed it was impossible to assess all of the changes sick and disabled people have faced and claiming that the IFS, the all powerful Institute for Fiscal Studies, agreed with him.
This was yet another lie from Freud - there is no other word for it. As the IFS have confirmed
“We can’t find anything we have written down saying we can’t do a CIA....We do think it is possible to do a CIA of tax and benefit changes for the disabled population as a whole."
As it happens, they did one themselves for Wales
Today, at the request of the European Human Rights Commission, (EHRC) NIESR, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research have produced a definitive CIA and it is shocking equalityhumanrights.
For more click here:Confirmed – The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled People Face
by samedifference1Care UK pay cuts made me homeless, says Doncaster striker
Care UK pay cuts made me homeless, says Doncaster striker
‘Care UK workers in Doncaster are fighting pay cuts so devastating that they have already made one woman worker homeless.
Mags Dalton has been a care worker for 26 years. But pay cuts of £400 a month mean she can’t afford her rent anymore—and will be forced to move out of the city altogether.
Mags told Socialist Worker, “I only moved into my house about a year ago. The move cost quite a lot—paying a bond, rent and hiring a van. Then Care UK took over our workplace in September, and by December they were cutting wages.’
Killed by benefits cuts: Starving soldier died ‘as result of Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reform’
Killed by benefits cuts: Starving soldier died ‘as result of Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reform’
‘A diabetic ex-soldier died starving and skint after officials axed his benefits.
David Clapson, 59, was stripped of the cash after missing an appointment under harsh Coalition reforms.
He died in Stevenage, Herts, with just £3.44 left in his account.’
Sign The Petition For An Inquiry Into The Benefit Sanctions That Killed David Clapson by johnny void
Sign The Petition For An Inquiry Into The Benefit Sanctions That Killed David Clapson
by johnny void
The family of David Clapson - the former soldier who recently died after his benefits were stopped as punishment for missing a meeting at the Jobcentre - have launched a petitioncalling for an inquiry into benefit sanctions.
In his sister's own words:
"My brother, David Clapson, a diabetic ex-soldier, died starving and destitute because he was penalised by the Job Centre for missing a meeting.
"David had his £71.70 weekly allowance stopped meaning that he couldn’t afford food or electricity. He was penniless, starving and alone. His electricity card was out of credit meaning the fridge where he should have kept his diabetes insulin chilled was not working. Three weeks after his benefits were stopped he died from diabetic ketoacidosis – caused by not taking his insulin.
"David wasn’t a “scrounger”. He had worked for 29 years; 5 years in the Army – including two years in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, during the height of the troubles – 16 years with British Telecom, eight years with various other companies, and in recent years was a carer for our sick mother. When mum went into a home, David turned to the state for help, receiving benefits while he looked for work and taking unpaid work placements.
"When he died he had just £3.44 to his name, six tea bags, a tin of soup and an out-of-date can of sardines. A coroner also found he had no food in his stomach.
"People turn to the state when they are in need - that is what the system is for - a safety net for hard working people like my brother when they need a bit of support. That £71.70 a week was his lifeline. To withhold it from him for missing one meeting is cruel. And the heartbreaking thing is that he was really trying. CVs for job applications were found near David’s body. He had been on work placements, passed his fork lift truck certificate and had been on a computer training course."
To read more and sign visit: http://www.change.org/
Please sign, share, tweet and blog this. Let's make sure this tragic story does not go away.
You can also sign the petition calling for benefits sanctions to be scrapped without exceptions.
The bedroom tax DHP postcode lottery by joehalewood
The bedroom tax DHP postcode lottery
by joehalewood Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
If you live in Copeland you have a 6% chance of getting a bedroom tax DHP: Yet if you live in Westminster it is a 169% chance! Yes you read that correctly and below here is a little graph which shows this starkly: Here is the maths bit which is pretty simple so bear with me. […]
British university system faces collapse
British university system faces collapse
‘Half of Britain’s 150 universities must close down if the system is to remain viable, according to a senior academic.
Sir Roderick Floud has proposed a plan for mass redundancies and closures to be adopted by the government in which he criticised the “messy, muddled non-system of higher education” as “inefficient” and in need of root-and-branch reform. Floud is the former head of Universities UK, an advocate for universities, and has run several universities.’
Outcry over taxman’s plan to settle debts by delving into people’s bank accounts so they can help themselves to money
Outcry over taxman’s plan to settle debts by delving into people’s bank accounts so they can help themselves to money
‘HMRC was accused yesterday of taking ‘a smash and grab’ approach with its demand for new powers to seize money directly from people’s bank accounts.
Britain’s leading tax experts warned the taxman risks being ‘unconstitutional’ with the controversial plans, which could come into force within months.
The proposed new powers – which were published in the Budget and subject to a public consultation which closed yesterday – have triggered an outcry among tax experts.’
Whistleblower: L.A. Planning to Forcibly House Homeless Citizens in Camps
Whistleblower: L.A. Planning to Forcibly House Homeless Citizens in Camps
‘The source, an office clerk within the LADHS, said that during a policy meeting on the morning of June 18th last month, his supervisor announced that the Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services had struck a deal with the government to open up “low cost housing” facilities for homeless people, otherwise known as “FEMA camps.” The source said that his supervisor ordered staff not to use the term “FEMA camps.”
The program is focused around removing or relocating homeless people from the streets of downtown L.A., starting with Skid Row.’
David Cameron announces immigration benefits crackdown
David Cameron announces immigration benefits crackdown
‘David Cameron is to announce tough action on immigration that will halve the amount of time foreigners can claim benefits in the UK.
The Coalition will introduce laws to ensure that European Union migrants can only claim out-of-work benefits for three months, Mr Cameron says in an article for The Telegraph.
The Prime Minister also pledges to stop more than 500,000 British jobs being advertised across the EU and announces tough new curbs on colleges offering visas to “bogus” students.’
Benefit sanctions hit most vulnerable people the hardest, report says
Benefit sanctions hit most vulnerable people the hardest, report says
Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Systematic problems in the way the government administers and imposes benefit sanctions, including disproportionate burdens on the most vulnerable, are revealed in a report commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The report found the way in which the DWP communicated with claimants was legalistic, unclear and confusing. The most vulnerable claimants were often left at a loss as to why benefits were stopped and frequently not informed by the DWP about hardship payments to which they were entitled, it said.
It also revealed serious flaws in how sanctions were imposed, with Work Programme providers required to send participants for sanctions when they knew they had done nothing wrong, leaving "claimants … sent from pillar to post".
The independent report was written for the DWP by Matthew Oakley, a respected welfare expert who is widely acknowledged as one of the leading thinkers on welfare on the centre right and as a result his criticisms, couched in careful language, are all the more damaging for a government that has consistently said the sanction regime is fair.
His main recommendations, which have been accepted by ministers, are:
His main recommendations, which have been accepted by ministers, are:
- All correspondence with claimants, including its style and content, should be reviewed
- Claimants must be given personalised information about why they have been referred
- Clear information must be given about the appeals process and access to hardship payments
- A guide to benefit sanctions must be easily accessible in hard copy and online
- Claimants who need particular help in understanding letters must be identified and spoken to
- People should get information through their "preferred channel"
- Procedures should be reviewed to ensure people have a clear understanding of their responsibilities
The DWP responded to the report by saying it would be updating the way it talked to benefit claimants, setting up a specialist team to look at all communications, including claimant letters, and working more closely with local authorities and advice centres to simplify the system.
Read Matthew Oakley’s full report on the government website here
Shameless – Workfare Exploiting Charities Slam The Benefit Sanctions They Are Responsible For by johnny void
Shameless – Workfare Exploiting Charities Slam The Benefit Sanctions They Are Responsible For
by johnny void
In an act of breath-taking hypocrisy, the Salvation Army, along with the YMCA, have both signed a letter to The Times calling the current benefit sanctioning regime unfair and counter-productive.
This comes despite both organisations being involved in 'Mandatory Work Activity' and therefore responsible for reporting unemployed people to the Jobcentre to face sanctions if they don't turn up for unpaid work placements.
The Salvation Army has even been praised by the DWP for 'holding the line' on workfare after scores of charities distanced themselves from the scheme. When peaceful anti-workfare campaigners visited the Salvation Army in protest at their use of workfare, the charity locked them inside and attempted to have them arrested with fabricated stories of staff being man-handled.
The Salvation Army have repeatedly defended their involvement in mandatory welfare-to-work provision and also their operation of a Work Programme sub-contract. Claimants on this scheme, including those on out of work sickness or disability benefits, can be 'mandated' to almost any job search related activity that the charity can dream up, including workfare. If their victims fail to do what they are told then it is the Salvation Army's job to report them to the DWP to have their benefits sanctioned.
Not for the first time some charities are pretending to care about the poor in public whilst stopping their benefits behind the scenes. If the Salvation Army and the YMCA think sanctions are unfair then perhaps they should stop sanctioning people. Until then, these grubby attempts to white wash their own workfare crimes should be treated with the contempt they deserve.
To join the fight against workfare visit Boycott Workfare's website.
Charities and voluntary organisations opposed to workfare can sign the Keep Volunteering Voluntary agreement.
The Salvation Army are on twitter @salvationarmyuk and facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/
YMCA are on twitter @YMCA_England and facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/YMCA.
Follow me on twitter @johnnyvoid
Council boss gets £25,000 pay rise while lowest paid offered two per cent by Mike Sivier
Council boss gets £25,000 pay rise while lowest paid offered two per cent
by Mike Sivier Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
Originally posted on UNEMPLOYED IN TYNE & WEAR:
A council chief executive’s pay has rocketed 25 per cent in two years whilst its lowest paid workers have been offered two per cent, prompting calls for more scrutiny on top public sector pay. The head of Hambleton District Council, Phillip Morton, was taken on in 2012…
A council chief executive’s pay has rocketed 25 per cent in two years whilst its lowest paid workers have been offered two per cent, prompting calls for more scrutiny on top public sector pay. The head of Hambleton District Council, Phillip Morton, was taken on in 2012…
Compulsory treatment and benefit sanctions: stoking fear and prejudice for political endsby Mike Sivier |
Originally posted on Sectioned:
Benefits Street arrived on the iPads of Telegraph readers on Saturday night. A story about scroungers refusing help to get back on their feet and the Conservative party’s proposed “tough love” solution provoked strong reactions. And that’s no surprise. People with mental health problems who are unable to work and dependent…
Benefits Street arrived on the iPads of Telegraph readers on Saturday night. A story about scroungers refusing help to get back on their feet and the Conservative party’s proposed “tough love” solution provoked strong reactions. And that’s no surprise. People with mental health problems who are unable to work and dependent…
Council tax rises hit Britain’s poor hardest
Council tax rises hit Britain’s poor hardest
‘More than two million of the poorest people in England are facing rising council tax demands this year because of fresh Government cuts to the benefit system, new figures reveal today. War widows, carers and the disabled are among 2.31 million people who used to be entitled to council tax benefit but have now had their support substantially reduced or taken away altogether.
As a result, significant numbers of families have been pushed into debt, with a survey revealing that nearly 16,000 people in London alone have been referred to the bailiffs for non-payment.’