bedroom tax is ‘INHUMANe’
TAX: Goole residents Adrian Hill, Patricia Miller and Melvyn Hill have concerns about the new Bedroom Tax. (BUY THIS PHOTO L8873TS) Picture: Tony Saxton
Goole resident Adrian Hill has slammed the government’s controversial ‘bedroom tax’ after he was told it will cost him an extra £44 per month.
The controversial tax is set to be implemented this April and will penalise those living in social housing deemed to have a spare bedroom.
The penalties will mean either a cut in benefits or tenants being asked to downsize.
The tax is set to affect over 660,000 tenants in social housing across the country.
Adrian, who lives with partner Patricia Miller in their two-bedroom flat in St Andrew’s Court, says it is another blow to those living on benefits.
He said: “It’s not fair what this coalition is doing.
“I challenge them to do what we do, and live off the amount of money we have to.
“It just seems like they are hitting the poorer all the time.
“I was told that it will cost me £11 extra a week. We’re struggling now so I don’t know what it will be like when this comes in.”
Adrian, who is classed as disabled, was told that a doctor’s note would not make him eligible for exclusion from the tax.
Having lived at his current address for the past 18 years Adrian, 50, says that he will be faced with potentially downsizing to another area.
He added: “I’ve lived here for 18 years and I don’t want to move.
“I do chores for the neighbours and like where I live so I don’t think it’s fair that I’m having to struggle even more because of the government.
“We’ll do what we’ve got to do to manage - what more can we do?”
Adrian’s brother Melvin, aged 61, is also likely to be affected.
He lives in a two-bedroom flat in Kent Road but says he is also faced with the prospect of having to downsize.
He said: “I’ve only lived here for two years so I don’t want to move again.
“I’ve got nice neighbours and I can’t be doing with all the upheaval involved.
“I run a car which I rely on to get me about so this tax is likely to mean I get less to spend on that.”
Labour Councillor for East Riding and Yorkshire Keith Moore has labelled the tax as inhumane, saying that it is another blow to the poorer.
He said: “It’s one of the most cruel pieces of legislation I’ve seen as it affects the most vulnerable in our society.
“It can and probably will lead to people having to move into the private sector which, compared to the cost of council housing, is so unpredictable.
“It’s pretty clear to me that there’s a class war unfolding - there’s no other way to describe it.”
* What do you think of the bedroom tax? Email us at editorial@gooletoday.co.uk
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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