Bedroom Tax has cost low-income families an average of £1,260

Good Society

Commons vote will be held today to determine the future of the Bedroom Tax.

Commons vote will be held today to determine the future of the Bedroom Tax

The latest government figures show that the coalition’s Bedroom Tax has cost thousands of low-income families an average of £1,260 since it was introduced in April 2013.

Around 500,000 people are currently being charged the Bedroom Tax, paying an average of £14 a week. Incredibly, two-thirds (330,000) of those hit are disabled and 60,000 are carers.

Labour have promised that their next government will repeal the Bedroom Tax. But they stress that the people being affected by it now cannot afford to wait that long, which is why they have forced a vote in the House of Commons.

The vote will take place today, and could mean that the Bedroom Tax is effectively abolished by Christmas.

Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said:

 “The Bedroom Tax is costing low-income families over £1,200, deepening the cost-of-living crisis for people who are struggling to make ends meet.

 “The government’s own independent report into the Bedroom Tax found fewer than five per cent of people had moved to another home in the social rented sector and 60 per cent of people had fallen behind with their rent. The Bedroom Tax has failed – it’s yet another example of Tory Welfare Waste.”

Describing the tax as ‘cruel’ and ‘unfair’, Reeves urged MPs from all parties to vote in favour of scrapping the Bedroom Tax today.

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49 Responses to “Bedroom Tax has cost low-income families an average of £1,260”

  1. CharleyFarleyFive

    Apostrophes in the correct place would be a start. You’re confusing your it’s and its.

  2. Tom

    Do you dispute that taxes can be paid out of benefit entitlements? Good luck explaining how no benefit payments are paid in indirect taxes.

    As it stands, this is a retrospective charge applied to tenants, that has nothing to do with the criteria for eligibility. Ergo, a tax.

  3. CharleyFarleyFive

    You can obfuscate all you like but it’s not a tax.

  4. CharleyFarleyFive

    Even the BBC, champion of the left knows it’s not a tax:-

    ‘A change in housing benefit rules, introduced in April 2013, has been dubbed the “bedroom tax” by Labour and, for many, the name has stuck.
    Strictly speaking, though, it is not a tax at all.’

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21321113

  5. Tom

    What a cogent argument.

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