MP Helen Jones has called on the Government to re-think plans to remove Housing Benefit from under 25s that could see working parents lose over £5,000 a year.
The Warrington North MP (pictured) says the plans would hit working parents in Warrington the hardest.
She claims to have uncovered figures which show that a single parent with a child under 16 stands to lose as much as £5,291.52-a-year – pushing them into poverty.
It is estimated that 1,025 under 25s are in receipt of Housing Benefit in Warrington.
Fifty three per cent are parents and only one in eight of recipients of Housing Benefit are unemployed.
Ms Jones said: “This is yet another example of the Tory-led Government hitting working people whilst giving tax-giveaways to millionaires.
“The vast majority of those people in receipt of Housing Benefit who are able to work are in work doing the right thing. However, this Government is targeting these people who are already struggling whilst refusing to repeat the tax on bankers’ bonuses which could be used to tackle youth unemployment.
“I am extremely concerned about the impact on parents who are already finding it increasingly hard to meet their bills and to provide for their children. “Arbitrarily removing Housing Benefit from under 25s will also see people who are unable to work, due to disability or other reasons, lose support.
“The Tory-led Government is continuing to target those people who can least afford it and I will work with my colleagues to argue against these proposals.”
Working parents to lose £5,000 – MP
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
Is this another attack against other parties? Has she checked to see if these claimants really need the money or are they working the system?
She would be better employed sorting out the problems that sorting out the problems of people who are genuinely disabled, who had their Disability Allowance taken from them for no apparent reason and without being able to question the decision.
Of course that won’t happen because it means having to do something rather than snipe to get brownie points.
The real problem in the UK is that a benefits culture has built up over the years, and there is now an expectation of an automatic entitlement for all, rather than benefits being paid only to those in the most dire straights and with a very genuine need. It is amazing how many people plead poverty, but have mobile phones, Sky TV, smoke and buy alcohol amongst other extravagances.
So tell us what you would have done???