The goverments new bedroom tax charges leaves grieving parents Mark and Julie Bell from Hartlepool facing a £56 a month housing benefit charge (£650 yearly), to allow them to keep the bedroom of their 7 year old daughter Becky’s bedroom as a shrine. Becky sadly died to cancer and her parents have kept her bedroom as it was, in memory of her.
“Its not here fault shes not here any more. To us she is still here” says mum Julie.
The new bedroom tax changes means the family home now has what they call a “spare bedroom”, they do not see it as a shrine to a young girl who lost her life. They do not take into consideration this bedroom belongs to their daughter who they are grieving. (The Sun)
From April the new bedroom tax rules mean that tenants in social housing will see their benefit cut if they have spare rooms. These rules even apply to those not on benefit, we will now face charges of around £13 for one spare room and £22 for 2 rooms.
The devastated parents who have 2 other children are heartbroken.
What are your views? Is it one rule fits all or should individual cases be looked into?
Is it fair to say that a “shrine room” is a bedroom that is occupied?
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