From: "Russell Pearson" <r.pearson-AT-clara.net>
Subject: Re: M-TH: British Labour Party
Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 18:21:21 +0100


Rebecca asks:

> Would someone explain what the housing benefits fraud is. I read this
> in some material concerning the UK and the Lbaour Party
When someone is on a low income, they can claim a state benefit to help pay
either some, or all of their rent. This benefit can be obtained dihonestly
by claimants claiming housing benefit when they aren't entitled to it- ie
they have too much income to qualify, do not pay as much rent as they claim
or do not actually live at the property etc. However, the latest scandal is
that of landlords claiming for tenants that either don't actually exist, or
who don't pay as much rent as the landlord and they say they do (thus they
may split the difference). 
All in all, fraudulently or not, it works as a nice little subsidy for
private landlords.

Russ,

I'll let someone else begin on the Blair's rule... 


 


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