I was looking at the Cardiff Council website for information on council tax benefit to see what changes are being brought in because of Universal Credit. It appears that from april 2013 council tax benefit is being replaced by council tax support and the website states that it is expected that a cut of at least 20% to people of working age will be brought in. It really does look like the old poll tax is being brought back in with a view to blaming local councils rather than the government. Housing benefit changes from april 2013 for Cardiff tenants include a cut of at least 14% of housing benefit for a spare bedroom and at least a 25% cut if you have two or more spare bedrooms. Two children are expected to share whatever sex they are until they are 10 and if they are the same sex then they are expected to share a bedroom until they are 16. It's going to affect quite a number of people in Cardiff. Now it all becomes clear why no mention of council tax benefit being paid alongside the rent to tenants when Universal Credit starts. The amounts the unemployed will have to find from jobseekers allowance payments are high and are going to cause so much hurt to genuine jobseekers while the Members of Parliament all enjoy at least a 60k a year salary. They can also claim expenses that make our benefits look like peanuts and they say we are all in it together. Who are they kidding?

Let's just hope that jobseekers allowance is increased to cover the extra cost or a decision is made not to charge the unemployed.