Bedroom tax focus group

Myself and Councillor Brenda Canham recently hosted a visit to Thetford by Richard Howitt MEP. He had contacted us some weeks earlier wanting to hear about local examples of how people were being affected by the 'bedroom tax'. We arranged to meet with several residents at the Abbey Neighbourhood Centre so that they could explain first hand to Richard what their experiences were. I must confess, I knew that the bedroom tax was a bad policy, but I had not fully grasped the implications that it may have and the discussion was a real eye opener and it certainly put a very personal edge on the situation.

To give you an idea, let me explain some of the personal circumstances that were discussed.

For one individual, he was recovering from alcoholism and after waiting for some time in a hostel, he was offered a 3 bedroom property - this is a man on his own. He did not apply for, he did not need, and he did not want a 3 bedroom property - but this is all that was available and therefore he had to accept. He is currently in arrears with his rent as he has been struggling to pay all of his bills due to complications with his benefits - he's been relying on Food Banks and friends to get by. He cannot now move to a smaller property as no exchanges are allowed when people are in arrears with their rent. He will now be hit by the bedroom tax, losing a significant proportion of his income, pushing him further into debt, and where that will end up, who knows?

Individual 2 - a victim of domestic abuse - put into a hostel with her daughter after leaving an abusive husband, and eventually rehoused after enduring some difficult conditions at the hostel. Only a 3 bedroom property available - now going to be hit by the bedroom tax.

Individual 3 - wife disabled and more often than not they have to sleep in separate bedrooms because of the condition. Son away at university, but comes home during holidays etc. Apparently they have 2 spare rooms - and will be 'taxed' accordingly.

Time and time again the debated centred around the fact that there were not the 1 or 2 bedroom properties available. So often recently those in social housing have been accused of "hogging" larger houses than they need when in reality, the distinct lack of a mix of social housing is the real reason that spare rooms exist. The fact that this policy does not even apply to pensioners as well just highlights how completely unfair and ill-conceived it is. 

Some Tories have responded to this all by belittling the argument - "don't you know when a tax is a tax?" - so what? I know it's not a tax, . its commonly referred to as the 'bedroom tax' and there is a very real issue that needs to be discussed rather than being trivialised.