Tory boy

[hopeful traveller]

It's a tax.

It's a benefit reduction. The government is giving people less rather than taking away more. In practical terms there's little difference - the net effect is that they have less money - but reductions in benefit aren't the same as taxes. People who don't claim housing benefit aren't affected by this so-called "tax".

THIS.

[tubeguru]

It's a tax.

It's a benefit reduction. The government is giving people less rather than taking away more. In practical terms there's little difference - the net effect is that they have less money - but reductions in benefit aren't the same as taxes. People who don't claim housing benefit aren't affected by this so-called "tax".

Semantics ...

[nozzacook]

What ever you like to call it it is still less money in the pocket of the people who are effected. Many of which are already at the minimum amount of money the government says you need to live on.

[GuyBarry]

I know that perfectly well. I'm on housing benefit myself, though fortunately I'm not affected by the under-occupancy penalty since I live in a one-bedroom flat. I have however been affected by other benefit changes that have had less publicity, such as the change from council tax benefit to council tax support, which affects far more people than the so-called "bedroom tax".

I just get a bit annoyed when people use inaccurate terminology to make political points. Why not just call a reduction in housing benefit a reduction in housing benefit?

[nozzacook]

Yep it has effected my sister who now has to pay 25% of her council tax where she was exempt before so she now has to pay £30pm which on top of everything else makes life just that bit harder.

[tubeguru]

I just get a bit annoyed when people use inaccurate terminology to make political points.

So every time a politician opens their mouth then?

[GuyBarry]

I just get a bit annoyed when people use inaccurate terminology to make political points.

So every time a politician opens their mouth then?

That's about right.

[hopeful traveller]

To unlock the William Hague bonus level (and very difficult), when it asks to to 'select a candidate', instead of clicking on Dave, Gideon, or Boris, click on the words 'select a candidate'.

[jamesthegill]

However, we want to make sure that work pays. It's not right that benefits can increase higher than wages: we're all in this together.

Seeing as I've talked about the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy endlessly, I won't go again.

Great, now I'm going to have this stuck in my head all day...