Housing benefits cuts may force young jobless to live with parents
Reading this preview of George Osbourne’s speech it is hard not to think that such changes will have an impact on all classes (worthy and “unworthy” poor – should such a category exist) in rural England. The article tells us:
“Few details of how these extra savings will be delivered are to be unveiled today but David Cameron indicated yesterday that housing benefit would be targeted.
In his speech, Mr Osborne will ask how paying housing benefit to young people who have never worked could be justified “when working people twice their age are still living with their parents because they can’t afford to buy their first home”. The move to restrict housing benefit could raise concerns among the vulnerable, particularly single mothers, that they are being targeted.
Currently there are restrictions on how much housing benefit can be claimed if you are under 35.”
In another interesting slice of information for older rural dwellers the preview of the speech tells us:
“The Chancellor and Mr Duncan Smith are also expected to “reaffirm” a commitment not to means test benefits paid to pensioners such as the winter fuel allowance. The announcement that further cuts to the welfare budget will come from those of working age indicates that pensioner benefits will be protected until at least 2017.”