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-   -   Bedroom tax blamed for woman's suicide... (https://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224652)

Ammi 12-05-2013 03:32 AM

Bedroom tax blamed for woman's suicide...
 
A woman who committed suicide left a note blaming the Government's so-called bedroom tax for her death.

Stephanie Bottrill killed herself earlier this month, and wrote in her final letter: "I don't [blame] anyone for me death expect [sic] the government."

Her son Steven, 27, said she was struggling to cope after being told to pay £20-a-week extra for two under-occupied bedrooms at her home in Solihull.

He told the Sunday People: "I couldn't believe it. She said not to blame ourselves, it was the Government and what they were doing that caused her to do it.

"She was fine before this bedroom tax. It was dreamt up in London, by people living in offices and big houses. They have no idea the effect it has on people like my mum."

Ms Bottrill, 53, died 10 days ago.

In the days running up to her death she told neighbours: "I can't afford to live any more."

Solihull Council Labour group leader David Jamieson, who knows the family well, said: "I'm absolutely appalled this poor lady has taken her own life because she was worried how she would pay the bedroom tax.

"I hope the Government will sit up and take notice and reconsider this policy."

The bedroom tax means people of a working age in social housing who have a spare bedroom will find housing benefit claims reduced by £40 to £80 a month.

Ms Bottrill had lived in her £320-a-month home for 18 years as she raised her son and daughter, but could not cope with the extra £80 she had to find every month.

Mr Bottrill said his mother wanted to work, but there was no way she could.

As a child she was diagnosed with the auto-immune system deficiency, Myasthenia gravis.

The illness made her weak and she had to take constant medication.

Doctors had told her she was too ill to hold down a job, but she had never been registered as disabled, so she lived without disability benefit.

Sky's political correspondent Sophy Ridge said: "Downing Street isn't commenting on what it says is a personal matter but clearly this will lead to calls for the policy to be changed.

"Downing Street knows it is controversial. That's why some amendments have been made to the policy already, saying armed services personnel and foster carers won't be affected.

"Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has argued consistently that he thinks this policy is a fair one, but certainly I think this row is going to keep going."

Omah 12-05-2013 04:26 AM

I blame the government, too ..... :mad:

Rewarding the rich and penalising the poor ..... totally and typically Tory ..... :yuk:

arista 12-05-2013 06:40 AM

Its a Cut back
not a bedroom tax.


Others are going ahead with changes

Marsh. 12-05-2013 07:01 AM

I thought it was a cutback not an actual charge?

AnnieK 12-05-2013 07:52 AM

It amounts to the same thing though really doesn't it? The main issue a lot of people I have spoken to is they requested 2bed properties but none available so the council gave them 3 beds so they now lose money because of the lack of adequate housing. It is an unfair charge/cutback/tax IMO.

Kizzy 12-05-2013 08:33 AM

Too right, it was ill thought out and rushed through without being impact assessed, well now only a matter of weeks into the changes we have our first victim of these 'charges'.

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:36 AM

She wont be the only one either..people cant be expected to pull money out of thin air..for many it will be a choice between paying the extra rent and eating. Homeless or starve. What a choice.

arista 12-05-2013 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicky. (Post 5988435)
She wont be the only one either..people cant be expected to pull money out of thin air..for many it will be a choice between paying the extra rent and eating. Homeless or starve. What a choice.

I hope she is.


And No one is homeless
its Downsizing,

AnnieK 12-05-2013 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988438)
I hope she is.


And No one is homeless
its Downsizing,

Downsizing to what though? Certainly in my area they have removed a lot of the smaller council properties and not replaced them. How can people be expected to downsize to non existent smaller properties?? And will they be compensated for the money spent maintaining and decorating the 3 bed properties if forced to move? I highly doubt it. It is pushing people further into the mire financially.

arista 12-05-2013 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniek76 (Post 5988439)
Downsizing to what though? Certainly in my area they have removed a lot of the smaller council properties and not replaced them. How can people be expected to downsize to non existent smaller properties?? And will they be compensated for the money spent maintaining and decorating the 3 bed properties if forced to move? I highly doubt it. It is pushing people further into the more financially.


Whatever they can.


This is Only Council Homes.

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988438)
I hope she is.


And No one is homeless
its Downsizing,

There arent enough smaller properties for everyone affected. So some have no choice but to stay where they are. If they cant afford the extra charge..eventually they will be evicted for rent arrears. = homeless.

Ninastar 12-05-2013 08:45 AM

blaming a tax on suicide... really?

arista 12-05-2013 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicky. (Post 5988441)
There arent enough smaller properties for everyone affected. So some have no choice but to stay where they are. If they cant afford the extra charge..eventually they will be evicted for rent arrears. = homeless.


No the Council must House them

Stop all this Doom talk

Kizzy 12-05-2013 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninastar (Post 5988442)
blaming a tax on suicide... really?

It is not a tax as has been noted, but essentially yes it is to blame the dead woman herself blamed it, did you read the OP?

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988443)
No the Council must House them

Stop all this Doom talk

Thats not true though...

arista 12-05-2013 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninastar (Post 5988442)
blaming a tax on suicide... really?


It was not just that.
Its a Spin on the the Tragic Event

arista 12-05-2013 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicky. (Post 5988445)
Thats not true though...


Then they must tell the press
How bad the Council is.

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988447)
Then they must tell the press
How bad the Council is.

And what good would that do? Nothing at all besides make some of the public whinge on about them wanting homes for life, or spending all their money on booze instead of paying the rent, or whatever the tory line is at the moment.


Edit. Having said that..only one Tory that I know actually agrees with this charge on the vulnerable. And he doesnt understand it really..thinks everyone can just downsize and everything would be fine, even though that cant happen...

arista 12-05-2013 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicky. (Post 5988448)
And what good would that do? Nothing at all besides make some of the public whinge on about them wanting homes for life, or spending all their money on booze instead of paying the rent, or whatever the tory line is at the moment.



Move Town then

InOne 12-05-2013 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988443)
No the Council must House them

Stop all this Doom talk

The Social Housing lists are absolutely massive. It takes people years to get rehomed sometimes.

Kizzy 12-05-2013 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988440)
Whatever they can.


This is Only Council Homes.

Well folk are not being ousted from their own properties.
And there is no 'mansion tax' is there?

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988449)
Move Town then

Arista..have you ever been on a council waiting list? I was when I moved out of my mothers, I was on the list for about 3 years before I got somewhere. Its a longer wait if you are moving outside of your normal living town too.

arista 12-05-2013 08:53 AM

"have you ever been on a council waiting list? "


No it would be hell

Vicky. 12-05-2013 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 5988453)
"have you ever been on a council waiting list? "


No it would be hell

Exactly. Yet you seem to have this idea that people just get given houses left right and centre. Doesnt work like that at all.

Ninastar 12-05-2013 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 5988444)
It is not a tax as has been noted, but essentially yes it is to blame the dead woman herself blamed it, did you read the OP?

no, i didn't but i don't think you can blame one thing on suicide.


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