No more council houses for life

That's my feelings exactly.
It's like "arrangement fees"

I can remember once insuring my car through Swinton's, (thirty years ago mind). They wanted to charge me an "arrangement fee." I told them they got commision on the policy and that was all they were getting, so they waived it.
Same with loans, mortgages or equity release through a bank or building society, why should there be an "arrangement fee" when they are making a big profit out of it anyway?
At the moment my on-line bank annoys me, every time I log on I have to say no to the "change your account to this one with goodies" page where you have to pay bank charges.

 

I can't pretend to understand the whole issue but my answer is to provide an increase in the working families tax credit allowance comprising of full childcare allowance (not a percentage), means tested council tax assistance and an amount towards mortgage/rent payments ( a fixed amount directly linked to the difference between social and private rent rates in the area for similar types of housing-the allowance amount being the cash difference between the two).

I also think that those that cannot find work and will do volunteer work should qualify for WFTC. I am perfectly happy for the unemployment benefits to be drastically cut (not the disability allowances or the pension credit benefit)-because if there is the safety net of financially supported voluntary work I can't see anyone having an issue with this-especially if the childcare costs are covered too.

I cannot agree with the family allowance cuts-in that I think every one should have the benefit cut and the cut off age should be 14 whether in full time education or not. I think once the kids are of a certain age both parents should be working ( main care-giver could easily go with part-time, supported volunteering as outlined above).

To pay for this the mortgage companies must be forced by legislation ( county courts) to accept proposed reductions in mortgage payments equivalent to the above comments about mortgage assistance should they choose to attempt to repossess a family's home in court. (Any costs incurred by late payment fees, court fees should also be abolished should they choose to ignore the above proposal from a home owner at the initial point of contacting the mortgage company when they realise they haven't got enough to pay).

Local councils forced to accept the proposed reductions related to council tax benefits should they choose to take someone to court for non-payment. ( As above for late fees and court fees-abolished). And the unemployment and child benefit cuts should more than cover the cost of financially supporting those that through lack of gainful employment opportunities choose to keep their toe in the water by volunteering.

Council tax bands should change-those with the more expensive houses simply should pay more, and those with children that share bedrooms ( two sisters, two brothers-even same sex cousins who live together as siblings) should receive council tax allowance from the revenue gained by increasing the tax on the most expensive houses.

An "empty bedroom" supplement increase on rent and council tax could be considered for social housing tenants and rent rates should be means tested-not arbitrarily increased or held back according to when you begin a tenancy-although I think this needs to go hand in hand with development of diverse social housing property types ( flats, bungalows etc)


I believe we should reward the hard working-even in these difficult times because we can't keep pretending that our population isn't increasing, we need to begin to think about sustainable living for the long term.

Also, I am unsure what would happen should we as a country say to those countries we apparently owe money to to go whistle for it, until we get our own house in order they can do without-once we do then we will pay.


And one other thing-the FSA (watchdog for financial companies) needs to be given it's teeth back, the banks need dealing with-I have just finished reading about a money laundering and fraud scandal with two of the big banks and cannot believe they are going to get away with it.

 

I think I will do just that Shiney-thank you.

 

Claire, you have my vote ... xx

 

Thanks-unfortunately the common sense part seems to be an immediate disqualification from the post. That and I would rather keep my morals intact.

It was a very negative review in my opinion-just at a time when we needed a positive one the most.

 

The tabloids are having a lot of schadenfreud-ery fun with the Smith family at the moment. Mrs Smith has managed to produce no less than ten children, despite being incapacitated by curvature of the spine. I wonder, however, what will happen to the children if their income really is cut drastically? It's not their fault that they have feckless parents.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/a...516919&in_page_id=2&expand=true#StartComments

 

I'm probably going to be unemployed shortly. Hopefully I'll find some other work, but if I don't I'll have the delights of Job Seekers Allowance and the accompanying pleasures that brings to look forward to.

Last time I had to claim, I was told I was only entitled to the bare minimum, which I had to pay council tax out of as well, as due to my circumstances (partner working, own house) I was entitled to it.

I know the tabloids love the sort of stories as above, but how many people out there are actually getting this level of benefits? Because I certainly won't!

 

I don't know how anyone exists on the Jobseeker's Allowance, Aaron. At least you have a partner who is in work but anyone who is on their own must be in desperate trouble. I don't know how people find the money to get to job interviews out of that pittance, let alone anything else.

 

And no one gets them unless they have kids, the whole system revolves around kids.

So to say its not the kids fault because they have feckless parents is the reason why benefits are as they are.

 

[align=left]Someone sent me this in an e-mail today.


The British Government provides the following financial assistance: -[/align]
[align=center]

BENEFIT[/align]






[align=center][align=center]BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER [align=center]Basic Weekly allowance

£100


[align=center]Weekly Spouse allowance[/align]
[/align]




[align=center]£25[/align]


Additional weekly hardship allowance

[align=center]£0.00[/align]



ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS / REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN [/align]



Weekly allowance

£250

Weekly Spouse allowance

£225
[/align]

[align=center]Additional weekly hardship allowance[/align]



[align=center]£100[/align]




[align=center]TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT[/align]




[align=center][align=center]Pensioners £6500


[align=center]ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS / REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN [/align]
£29,900[/align]
[/align]



[align=center][/align]


[align=center][align=center]The average pensioner has paid taxes and contributed to the growth of this country
for the last 40 to 60 years.[/align]
[/align]








[align=center][/align]