Features
How Changes to Welfare Reform Could Affect You
People can find out how changes to benefits under the Government's Welfare Reform Act could affect them at an open meeting by the Rotherham Federation of Tenants and Residents (RotherFed) on Tuesday 23 October 2012.
Anyone in receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Based Employment Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit could potentially be affected by the current changes.
The event at Springwell Gardens Community Centre will give people an opportunity to discuss whether they are likely to be impacted, help them understand what the changes will be and how to prepare for them. Information will be available from a variety of organisations and a panel of speakers has been lined up to give further details.
The Welfare Reform Act became law earlier this year as the Government aims to create the right incentives to get more people into work, protect the most vulnerable in society, and make the benefit system fair for both claimants and the taxpayer.
Two of the biggest areas affected by the Act include:
- Housing Benefit, specifically new regulations in relation to under occupying within the social-rented sector
- Benefit payments, including the need for all people receiving any type of benefit to have a bank account in order to receive their payments
RotherFed's Manager Steve Ruffle said: "I would advise anyone who is of working age and claiming benefits to come along and find out how the changes could affect them and to seek advice about what support is available.
"I cannot emphasise enough how significant these changes will be and the potential impact they may have."
Of particularly concern to RotherFed is those people living in properties that are classed as 'under-occupied'.
Under-occupied means those households with more bedrooms than they require. According to a report released by The Intergenerational Foundation in 2011, more than a third of homes in England are currently under-occupied.
Steve said: "Locally, there's no reason to suggest the figures are any different. Whilst we do not know how many of these households are on benefits, what we can say is that a large minority of the local population is likely to be impacted by the changes.
"From April 2013, working-age social tenants receiving Housing Benefit will experience a reduction in their benefit if they live in social housing that is deemed to be too large for their needs. Those living in housing provided by the Council or housing associations will specifically be affected by the current changes. The main exception to this will be households who are not of working-age. Restrictions on Housing Benefit based on the size of the accommodation have long applied to those people living in privately rented housing."
The event will give people an opportunity to meet different providers and to hear the views of other tenants.
A specially commissioned film will be shown illustrating the concerns of ordinary Rotherham residents. Visitors to the session will be able to view the footage, see how the changes might also affect them and ask questions.
The video will feature people like Mr Myres, from North Rotherham, who has lived in his three-bed council property for over 30 years.
He said: "I have raised my children there and worked hard all my life. My kids have now moved on to university and into properties of their own. Sadly my wife has now become ill and I spend my time caring for her. We now have what is classed as two spare rooms. When I heard about the Welfare Reform I knew it would be a struggle for my wife and I to pay the bedroom tax so I have filled in the forms to downsize to something smaller.
"This will be a real wrench for us as all - our memories are in our home but we know it has to be done. I have taken the initiative and decided to act now. However, I worry that a suitable property could take a long time to find and in the meantime we will still have to pay the tax. Where will the smaller properties come from to accommodate people like us? It's well documented that there are a shortage of properties already."
David who has learning difficulties said: "I am very worried. Someone once assessed my benefits wrong and my benefits were taken away. I had no money for food or to pay my bills. I am frightened the same thing will happen again. I live independently in a two-bed flat. Will I have to move where I don’t know anybody?"
Meanwhile, Emma is disabled and lives with her partner who is also disabled. She has heard they will lose their bus passes and have to move. "Is this true?" she asks.
These and other questions will be answered on the day by the various organisations in attendance and by a panel of speakers including Annette Cassam from Citizens Advice Bureau, Wendy Foster from Rotherham Council and Clive Hartley from RotherFed.
Of equal concern to RotherFed is the number of households that do not currently have a bank account. But help is available to those looking to set one up.
According to national statistics, three households in every hundred do not currently have a bank account*. If only those households receiving some sort of benefit were included in the count, these statistics would probably be higher.
Steve adds: "Anyone wishing to receive benefits in the future will need to have a bank account into which their payments will be paid. We will be providing information on the day to those people who would like to open an account but either don't know how to go about it or have had difficulties opening one in the past; perhaps they were refused one because of personal circumstances.
"If people come along to find out about the changes they will be in a much better position to be able to plan for the future. It may simply be that we are able to put people's minds at ease - often it's simply not knowing the facts and how it may impact on them that people get most anxious about.
"Come and meet other tenants and residents face to face. Talk through your concerns and issues and get support from a variety of agencies that can help you."
Doors open at 1.30pm and there will be a number of stalls to browse. The meeting begins at 2pm and ends at 3.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend but places must be booked in advance. Creche spaces are available but also need to be booked. A British Sign Language interpreter will be in attendance.
A free buffet will be provided.
To book your place please call .
*Family Resources Survey June 2012, Dept of Work and Pensions
Springwell Gardens Community Centre is based on Eastwood View, Rotherham, S65 1NG, and is clearly signposted from Doncaster Road (2 mins walk)
Regular buses operate to Doncaster Road from Rotherham Interchange, East Herringthorpe, East Dene and Thrybergh (numbers 15 and 37)
Street parking is also available
