We meet two hard working members now facing the challenge of welfare cuts
Moving story Jim and Joan Page have lived in the same council house for over 30 years, but they face having to move to a smaller house in another district because of changes to housing benefit.
Jim has been unable to work since August when he lost his job as a painter at an engineering contractor after he became allergic to epoxy resin and contracted dermatitis.
In December a DWP doctor told him he shouldn’t work for at least six months to allow his skin to clear up. His condition is improving but he still suffers discomfort from itching, particularly round his neck. Jim and Joan’s daughter and granddaughter, who live with them at the moment, hope to move soon which will leave the Pages losing part of their housing benefit because of the new ‘bedroom tax’.
The Pages receive employment support allowance and housing benefit and have to manage on £140 a week. But when housing benefit changes, they’ll have to pay £25 for their extra bedroom.
“I don't know what will happen,” says Mr Page, “but I think we will have to look for a smaller council house or end up on the streets, as we can only just manage at the moment.”
Joan Page believes it is unfair that, through no fault of their own, they may have to move. “We’ve been living here in this house for 32 years and we’ve done a lot to it – having to move after that time is just shocking.”
She is also worried by their high gas bill. “We put the heating on at 4pm when our granddaughter comes in from school until 10pm and that’s costing us £5 a day. It is a big worry, especially with the changes coming in April. When you can’t even heat your house it’s horrible.”
Joan was an auxiliary nurse until she became ill, but is now looking for work as a cleaner – or anything. “We don’t want to be on benefits – my husband would go back to work right now if he could. We both want to be hard working, we’re not scroungers.”
Stigmatised Martin Cooke is 47 and lives with his partner, their 19-year-old, their two-year-old and their baby aged six months. He’s unemployed, on benefits for the first time in his life, and feels stigmatised by having to claim. Mr Cooke is angry that the government is unfairly casting him and people like him as scroungers. In his own words:
“Until last July I had never claimed benefits but now there’s a lack of jobs. I was brought up to earn a living and pay my way so do not enjoy claiming benefits. I’ve been working and paying tax since I left college when I was 19 so do not appreciate those who seem to share the government’s opinion and look down their noses at me.
“I’m sure there are some scroungers out there but it seems unfair for the government to put me and many others in the same situation into the same boat as these.
“I was made redundant back in February 2010 and out of work for nearly a year but never claimed benefits as I had redundancy and used this to get by on, plus all my savings. If I was a scrounger then I would not have done this. I think it’s appalling.”
21 uniteWORKS March/April 2013
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