Quote:
Originally Posted by martyh
The point your missing is that young girls are already doing that because despite the right to housing that current 18-21 yr olds have it is very rare that they make it to the top of the housing list and get accomodation because of the priorities already set by the LA's ,a sudden increase in childbirth is unlikely because those that would do it are already doing it.As i said this policy is not just about saving money it is as much about perception
|
The point you are missing is that they will continue to do what they do in the belief (as evidenced below) that it assists with housing allocation prioritization. Others will follow suit. It's as well it's not just about "saving money" because it doesn't look like it will save any money.
In 2012 Cameron was
predicting savings of 2bn which was scoffed at. He changed tact and age grouping in
2013 announcing that all people under 25 not in work or education would have it removed (incidentally, one figure from the conderence that is worthy of note is the fact that single parents make up 40% of Housing Benefit claims of under 25's - are you seeing a pattern yet). Then in September 2014 he announces the age grouping to be 18-21 but that he is "not talking about people with children".
It's a nice soundbite, yes. But that is all it is. It appeals to a certain demographic of the electorate who are excited by silly suggestions when in reality all that is happening in relation to this particular proposal is the equivalent of rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
It's not rocket surgery. Tens of thousands of teenagers for years have managed to figure out how to get free housing benefit. You can rest assured that telling them that having a child more or less guarantees the status quo will not have the board of Durex jumping up and down with excitement.