Thanks, that's the clearest explanation I've seen of our system. And what a mess it is!
I am personally in favour of the bedroom tax, so it'd be good to hear why this is horrible (I'm sure there are edge cases I've not thought of).
Completely agree about housing benefit being a horrifically inefficient system. I was talking to a person who deals with people on housing benefit yesterday, about the number who lie about not cohabiting (so they get higher payments for being 'single'). Not sure any way round that.
You're right, it's just a few edge cases that make the bedroom tax horrible.
The theory is that people are over accommodated, and should move to more appropriate housing. But moving home is expensive, and these people by definition don't have much money.
I haven't seen evidence that moving these people around will make any difference to the housing shortage.
But yes, it's a good idea.
Housing benefits for cohabiting / single people is weird. Ann and Bob live in separate flats and get full benefits each. They move into a flat together, and as a couple they get less than either of them was getting singly. That system is wrong, I think.
I am personally in favour of the bedroom tax, so it'd be good to hear why this is horrible (I'm sure there are edge cases I've not thought of).
Completely agree about housing benefit being a horrifically inefficient system. I was talking to a person who deals with people on housing benefit yesterday, about the number who lie about not cohabiting (so they get higher payments for being 'single'). Not sure any way round that.