THE shocking impact the Government's "bedroom tax" has had on people in Grimsby in its first six months has today been revealed.
Since the levy was introduced in April, almost 70 per cent of those affected have gone into rent arrears.
Figures released by Shoreline Housing Partnership – the charity which provides housing support to those in North East Lincolnshire – show 900 of the 1,300 people forced to pay bedroom tax are already falling behind with payments.
The news came just days after 50-year-old Grimsby grandmother Carly Jensen described how she has been driven to the brink of suicide and faces being made homeless because of the Government's welfare reforms.
Left with just £9 a week left to live on after paying the extra levy, she has been issued with an eviction notice from Shoreline.
The chief executive of Shoreline, Tony Bramley, pictured , said the so-called bedroom tax levy is a "frightening" situation for those affected.
"The situation six months in is more or less as we expected, which is not particularly good," he said.
"We are trying our very best to help those affected but we are a charity and we rely on rent payments to continue helping those in housing need.
"We are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"On the one hand we understand that people don't want to move and can't afford the extra payments, but on the other we have to collect rent payments.
"Evicting people always has been and always will be a last resort, but unfortunately there is only so much we can do. We simply don't have enough single units that people would want to live in."
The residents affected have clocked up rent arrears totalling £183,000 since April – a 41 per cent increase on the £75,000 of arrears recorded during the same period last year.
Tony added: "The average debt among the 1,300 people affected is now £219.
"That might not sound a lot to somebody who is working, but to a vulnerable person on a limited income, it would seem insurmountable and would take years of repayments."
As reported, the Government says families with spare bedrooms should move out to free up space.
It introduced the "bedroom tax" – or under-occupancy charge – to encourage this.
Under the changes, people lose 14 per cent of their housing benefit per week for under-occupying by one room and 25 per cent for having two or more spare bedrooms.
While those in Shoreline properties who are entitled to full housing benefit have their rent taken directly from their benefit payments, they have to find and pay the bedroom tax themselves.
Mr Bramley added: "The majority of the 900 people who have fallen into arrears so far have never been in arrears before.
"It is a very frightening situation for them and we've seen every reaction under the sun, from very upset to very angry.
"Our advice to people would be not to bury their heads in the sand but to seek help.
"If they don't want to talk to us then there are other agencies who can help, but ignoring mounting arrears isn't an option."
A total of 140 people have already left Shoreline homes because they cannot afford to pay the bedroom tax.
They are believed to have moved into homes managed by private landlords, who do not have to enforce the bedroom tax.
See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for details of agencies in North East Lincolnshire who can help those struggling with bedroom tax.
HELP is at hand for those struggling to cope with meeting payments for bedroom tax. North East Lincolnshire Council can make a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to those deemed to be in the greatest need. A pot of money was provided to all local authorities by central Government in anticipation of the issues now arising. However, Mr Bramley said it has a number of limitations. He explained: "People can apply directly to the council for DHP or we can support them, or even apply on their behalf. "The trouble is that payments are discretionary, short-term and the pot is limited." The first port-of-call for concerned Shoreline residents should be its Customer Service Centre, in Osborne Street, Grimsby. You can call 0845 8492000 or e-mail info@shorelinehp.com Other sources of help include: Citizens' Advice Bureau, Town Hall Street – 0844 4111444. Community Advice Service, Kent Street, Grimsby – 01472 240256. Age UK, Osborne Street, Grimsby – 01472 344976. Your Place, Wellington Street, Grimsby – 01472 344976. Moneyline, Freeman Street, Grimsby – 01472 267600. North East Lincolnshire Credit Union, St James House, Grimsby – 01472 361990. Money Advice Service – 0300 5005000. Housing and council tax benefits office, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Street, Grimsby – 01472 323720.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
