Can’t Pay Won’t Pay –
Council Tax Benefit We Must Oppose it Like the Poll Tax
Council Tax Benefit We Must Oppose it Like the Poll Tax
I recently attended a seminar for the voluntary sector in Brighton
concerning Council Tax Benefit. Instead of receiving CTB according to how much
you receive or earn, and those on JSA/Income support receive 100%, Council’s
will now receive only 90% of their previous allocation and are free to devise
any criteria they choose.
Below is an article from ‘the angry claimant’ about how Tory
(or is it Liberal-Democrat – no difference really) has decided to cash limit
benefit to just £20, so if you rent in the highest band properties, you will
have to pay over £40, which is 2/3 of your JSA entitlement. Not only will it mean social cleansing but
people will have to choose between heat, eating and paying the Council.
(or is it Liberal-Democrat – no difference really) has decided to cash limit
benefit to just £20, so if you rent in the highest band properties, you will
have to pay over £40, which is 2/3 of your JSA entitlement. Not only will it mean social cleansing but
people will have to choose between heat, eating and paying the Council.
Do not despair.
People will not be able to pay. This offers us a golden opportunity to
campaign against these cuts just like 25 years ago we smashed the Poll Tax with
a Can’t Pay Won’t Pay campaign. This is the first opportunity for claimants
and the poor to refuse to accept the cuts.
The richer you are in Tory/Lib Lewes the less of course you are
affected.
People will not be able to pay. This offers us a golden opportunity to
campaign against these cuts just like 25 years ago we smashed the Poll Tax with
a Can’t Pay Won’t Pay campaign. This is the first opportunity for claimants
and the poor to refuse to accept the cuts.
The richer you are in Tory/Lib Lewes the less of course you are
affected.
 |
| Painting the town red … John Bartlett’s History Painting (1993-4) sanitises the brutal reality of the poll tax riots. Photograph: John Bartlett |
It should be pointed out though that each Council is able to devise its own scheme. In Brighton there will be a flat 10% cut for everyone, rather than a cash limit, and also a small discretionary fund. Lewes has decided to ensure that the poorest pay the most.
Below is footage from the riots of 24 years ago. That’s the way we will have to go again!
Tony Greenstein
BENEFITS AND POVERTY IN LEWES AND BRIGHTON
“There’s nothing surer, the
rich get richer and the poor get poorer”
DO YOU CLAIM COUNCIL TAX
BENEFIT?
ONE IN FIVE LEWES HOUSEHOLDS DO.
ARE YOU UNDER PENSION AGE?
IF SO:
LEWES COUNCIL WANTS TO CUT
YOUR BENEFIT!
From April Lewes District Council will set the
rules for council tax benefit in the area instead of the government. Many low
paid working people and those under pension age who cannot work rely on council
tax benefit to pay their council tax. Here is what the council (along
with other councils in East Sussex) proposes to do:
rules for council tax benefit in the area instead of the government. Many low
paid working people and those under pension age who cannot work rely on council
tax benefit to pay their council tax. Here is what the council (along
with other councils in East Sussex) proposes to do:
NO MORE THAN £20 PER WEEK COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT- HOWEVER POOR YOU
ARE
Even if you are destitute you will not get more
than £20 per week benefit. These figures show the current weekly
rates of council tax for each band.
than £20 per week benefit. These figures show the current weekly
rates of council tax for each band.
Band A … £20.09 – £21.61
Band E … £36.83 – £39.63
Band B … £23.43 – £25.22 Band F … £43.52
– £46.83
Band C … £26.78 – £28.82 Band G … £50.22
– £54.04
Band D … £30.13 – £32.42 Band H … £60.26
– £64.84
Band E … £36.83 – £39.63
Band B … £23.43 – £25.22 Band F … £43.52
– £46.83
Band C … £26.78 – £28.82 Band G … £50.22
– £54.04
Band D … £30.13 – £32.42 Band H … £60.26
– £64.84
(figures vary according to the local parish
rate)
rate)
So even people living in the most modest
housing will lose out. Their benefit will not cover all of the council tax.
Things will be worse for families, who need larger housing which tends to
be in higher bands. Almost everyone who is unable to work will have to meet
some of the council tax out of their personal benefits.
housing will lose out. Their benefit will not cover all of the council tax.
Things will be worse for families, who need larger housing which tends to
be in higher bands. Almost everyone who is unable to work will have to meet
some of the council tax out of their personal benefits.
Heaven knows how the council will manage to
collect the amount of council tax not covered by benefit. Mrs Thatcher
lost her job largely because of rage about the community charge (poll tax) and
the fact that councils could not collect the amounts of the charge not covered
by benefit. Now the coalition government has ensured that it is local
council members who will the subject of this rage.
collect the amount of council tax not covered by benefit. Mrs Thatcher
lost her job largely because of rage about the community charge (poll tax) and
the fact that councils could not collect the amounts of the charge not covered
by benefit. Now the coalition government has ensured that it is local
council members who will the subject of this rage.
IF YOU ARE ENTITLED TO LESS THAN £5 YOU DON’T GET IT.
When they work out how much benefit you are
entitled to, if it is less than £5 per week you don’t get it. This will mostly
affect people who work for low wages. £5 may not sound a lot, but if you
are struggling on the minimum wage it could make working unviable.
entitled to, if it is less than £5 per week you don’t get it. This will mostly
affect people who work for low wages. £5 may not sound a lot, but if you
are struggling on the minimum wage it could make working unviable.
EVEN LESS MONEY IF YOUR CHILDREN STILL LIVE AT HOME
If you have someone who is living with you who
is not legally dependent on you your benefit is cut to cover the amount they
are supposed to give you. (a non-dependent deduction) This happens
even if they do not pay any money. This most commonly happens when
working age children still live with their parents. The councils want to
double the amount that will be taken off benefit in this situation. This is
likely to lead to increased homelessness amongst young people, with extra costs
to the council.
is not legally dependent on you your benefit is cut to cover the amount they
are supposed to give you. (a non-dependent deduction) This happens
even if they do not pay any money. This most commonly happens when
working age children still live with their parents. The councils want to
double the amount that will be taken off benefit in this situation. This is
likely to lead to increased homelessness amongst young people, with extra costs
to the council.
NO BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE SAVED A BIT
If you have savings of more than £6,000 and you
are under pension age you will not get any benefit at all. Tough on those
who make provision for a rainy day, but no problem for those who squander all
their money.
are under pension age you will not get any benefit at all. Tough on those
who make provision for a rainy day, but no problem for those who squander all
their money.
WORSE TO COME FOR PEOPLE IN WORK?
If you are working and you earn more than you
would get on benefits your council tax benefit is reduced. At the moment,
for every pound that you take home over benefit level you lose 20p of your
benefit. This is on top of the amount you will lose from tax, national
insurance and universal credit (probably about 72p).
would get on benefits your council tax benefit is reduced. At the moment,
for every pound that you take home over benefit level you lose 20p of your
benefit. This is on top of the amount you will lose from tax, national
insurance and universal credit (probably about 72p).
The council refuses to say whether it will
change this. It doesn’t suggest that it could reduce the amount and the
whole tone of the proposal is that things will get worse rather than better. So
the deduction will be at least 20p in the pound. It could be as high as
25p in the pound, in which case why work? The council must come clean about
what it proposes.
change this. It doesn’t suggest that it could reduce the amount and the
whole tone of the proposal is that things will get worse rather than better. So
the deduction will be at least 20p in the pound. It could be as high as
25p in the pound, in which case why work? The council must come clean about
what it proposes.
WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THIS?
A lot of the blame must go to the Coalition
government. They have cut the grants paid to council to pay council tax
benefit with by 10% and said that councils cannot cut benefit to
pensioners. This means that councils must either savage benefit for
working people or cut services or put the council tax up or all of these.
government. They have cut the grants paid to council to pay council tax
benefit with by 10% and said that councils cannot cut benefit to
pensioners. This means that councils must either savage benefit for
working people or cut services or put the council tax up or all of these.
IS IT A DONE DEAL?
No. The council has just announced its
proposals. It will finally decide in January. On the council’s web site there
is a consultation that you can take part in- although they do not ask for your
views about the rate of reduction for people in work.
proposals. It will finally decide in January. On the council’s web site there
is a consultation that you can take part in- although they do not ask for your
views about the rate of reduction for people in work.
WHAT CAN I DO?
By all means fill in the council’s consultation
survey before the end of October, but also please let as many people as
possible know what is happening. Please also contact your Lewes District
Council member to let them know that this proposal is not on. No one likes
putting up the council tax but this is the only alternative if we are all to
take the strain rather than the most vulnerable in our community.
survey before the end of October, but also please let as many people as
possible know what is happening. Please also contact your Lewes District
Council member to let them know that this proposal is not on. No one likes
putting up the council tax but this is the only alternative if we are all to
take the strain rather than the most vulnerable in our community.
If you live in another area in East Sussex it
is likely that your council are proposing the same system. If you live
elsewhere find out what your council is doing and publicise it.
is likely that your council are proposing the same system. If you live
elsewhere find out what your council is doing and publicise it.
THE CUTS WILL NOT APPLY TO PENSIONERS.
HELP AND ADVICE
Regrettably the
angry claimant doesn’t have the resources to give advice about individual
cases. But you can get advice here:
angry claimant doesn’t have the resources to give advice about individual
cases. But you can get advice here:
Lewes CitizensAdvice, 3 North Court, Lewes East SussexBN7
2AR phone 01273 473082
2AR phone 01273 473082
Newhaven Advice
Hub, Summerhayes Centre, Newhaven, 01273 612360
Hub, Summerhayes Centre, Newhaven, 01273 612360
East SussexDisability Association (ESDA) – advice for people with disabilities- web phone 01323 514500
Age UK, benefits
advice for older people, Lewes and Wealden 01273 476704 Ext 235
advice for older people, Lewes and Wealden 01273 476704 Ext 235
For a list of
advice centres in Brighton see
advice centres in Brighton see
Always phone
before visiting if you can to check opening hours and if they can help you.
before visiting if you can to check opening hours and if they can help you.
Private
solicitors may be able to offer advice under the legal advice scheme, but the
government plans to close this.
solicitors may be able to offer advice under the legal advice scheme, but the
government plans to close this.
If you have a
disability or illness the organisation set up to cater for the condition may
offer help with benefits.
disability or illness the organisation set up to cater for the condition may
offer help with benefits.
There are a
number of written guides to benefits. The Disability Rights Handbook is good if you have a disability. The Child Poverty Action Group sells a wide range of guides.
number of written guides to benefits. The Disability Rights Handbook is good if you have a disability. The Child Poverty Action Group sells a wide range of guides.
WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?
I’ve been
involved in social security for over 40 years and I’ve been constantly amazed
at how little people know about it. We are nearly all claimants,
contributing to the national insurance system and claiming child benefit,
retirement pension and other benefits. But most people understand very
little about what they are paying for, how much they are paying, and what they
are paying for.
involved in social security for over 40 years and I’ve been constantly amazed
at how little people know about it. We are nearly all claimants,
contributing to the national insurance system and claiming child benefit,
retirement pension and other benefits. But most people understand very
little about what they are paying for, how much they are paying, and what they
are paying for.
This was brought
home to me when I was engaging in debate with a an experienced Lewes district
councillor, who didn’t appear to know that the council was about to be made
completely responsible for devising a new system of council tax benefits, with
10% less money than the government currently spends on the benefit!
home to me when I was engaging in debate with a an experienced Lewes district
councillor, who didn’t appear to know that the council was about to be made
completely responsible for devising a new system of council tax benefits, with
10% less money than the government currently spends on the benefit!
It seems to me
that there is a real danger of the government getting away with its cuts in
benefit because people do not understand what is going on and how it will
affect our neck of the woods. So I’ve started this newsletter. It
doesn’t aim to give benefits advice. There are lots of sources of that.
(See above). It does try to explain what the system is and how the
government’s changes will affect Lewes and Brighton. Its aim is to
improve knowledge, so you are welcome to forward it on to other people and to
use the material in the newsletter, providing that you give me a credit and run
any changes past me
that there is a real danger of the government getting away with its cuts in
benefit because people do not understand what is going on and how it will
affect our neck of the woods. So I’ve started this newsletter. It
doesn’t aim to give benefits advice. There are lots of sources of that.
(See above). It does try to explain what the system is and how the
government’s changes will affect Lewes and Brighton. Its aim is to
improve knowledge, so you are welcome to forward it on to other people and to
use the material in the newsletter, providing that you give me a credit and run
any changes past me
Chris Smith
Posted in Blog
