Mr and Mrs Goodwin of Blackwood are both registered blind. Life for them is not easy. But they are fortunate in a number of ways. They are lucky to have been living in the same council house for the past 26 years and recently the council improved and modernised their home, thanks to the work of Chris Evans, MP for Islwyn. They are fortunate too in having good neighbours and their family lives close-by and Mr and Mr Goodwin’s sister gives wonderful support. But importantly there are the two wonderful Labrador guide dogs who are their trusted companions.
Mr and Mrs Goodwin’s life however will be made significantly more difficult from April 1. Incredible though it might seem to most people, Mr and Mrs Goodwin will lose over £20 per week in housing benefit when the Government introduces the so-called ‘bedroom tax’. Because the couple live in a three bedroom council house, the Government make the assumption that two of these rooms are ‘spare’ and their housing benefit will be cut accordingly.
In response Mr and Mrs Goodwin will be obliged to do one of three things. Firstly, they can try to get a smaller rented property. But there is a lack of smaller rented accommodation in the area and moving from Blackwood would mean that they would lose the support of family and friends, and after 26 years, they would be in an entirely new environment. This would be difficult for anyone but it would be traumatic for people who are blind.
Secondly, they can take in a lodger, as suggested by the Government. Not a sensible option for obvious reasons. Thirdly, they can ‘pay’ the extra, even though they can hardly afford to do so. This would mean cutting back on some of the basics in their life, like heating and food.
After I raised the predicament of Mr and Mrs Goodwin in the House of Commons, the couple have written to the Prime Minister as he invited them to do. Let’s hope that he belatedly recognises just how unfair his bedroom tax is and does a U-turn. I sincerely hope he will backtrack but to be honest, I’m not that hopeful.
This bedroom tax is probably one of the most unfair things which this Government has done. I really hope that people will stand by Mr and Mrs Goodwin and thousands of disabled people like them. Mr Cameron and his Government must be told that this bedroom tax is not acceptable.
Wayne David
Labour MP for Caerphilly
The Labour controlled Caerphilly County Borough Council are considering, and likely to agree, to provide £500,000 to deal with homelessness in the Caerphilly area, this is proposed to enable United Welsh Housing Association to convert a property for use by homeless families and those who need intervention support in respect to other issues.
The `Bedroom charge` which Wayne David writes about, will contribute to an increasing need for such accommodation for people who will find themselves totally UNABLE to find the additional `rent` that this odious, charge, aimed at those less able to pay, will inflict upon them.
This is mostly a case, unlike the serious and personal situation Mr and Mrs Goodwin find themselves in, of tenants who would in fact move to more suitable accommodation, with their existing landlords, if it were made available to them, in most cases it is is`nt made available and therefore these tenants are in a impossible position to avoid this obnoxious additional rent rise.
The ratepayers of the borough, who are not directly effected by this fateful situation, and as such feel it will not concern them are mistaken as the above investment and costs in homelessness for people in Caerphilly is proving. The Caerphilly Council`s responsibility for the the Disabled, sick, and otherwise socially disaffected citizens of the Borough who find themselves homeless will increase when the effect on families of this Bedroom Tax kicks in, resulting in increased financial responsibility on the rest of the borough`s ratepayers.
For the above reason all the citizens of the Caerphilly CBC area should be concerned about the direct actions of the Tory Lib Dem Government and not just those who live under the threat of the ability to pay their rent and keep a roof over their families heads.
Wayne David and his Labour party colleagues and the Labour Controlled Caerphilly Council must be supported in their opposition to this odious Tax on the poor, if for no other reason so that its effects are visited on the pockets of all the ratepayers of the borough, in this case, Osbourne is correct, this will effect everyone.
I must applaud Mr. Davids comments, however, I would like to point out that it is not only disabled people who will suffer under this unfare and totally unjust tax, Foster carer's who keep a room for a Foster child will also have to pay for the privelege from April the first, and let us not forget that we are not talking about houses we are talking about people's homes, homes people like the Goodwin's have lived in for many years, homes where they have brought up their families and where they have friends and support networks as they get older.
Mr. Cameron does not seem to have taken any of these things into consideration, or is it that he just does not care