Council housing list & benefits question(s)

Stealth-Bird

I don't know if I'm asking this in the right place but I can't find anywhere better, so here goes...

I'm 17 years old, in full time education (college) and work 4 hours a week.

I've recently been made homeless, technically by choice (I think). (complicated situation revolving around a mental condition I have.) This is basically how it happened...

Me, my Mum and my Brother have been living in a 2 bed flat and recently my Mum won a 3 bed house through the council bidding system. But because of my OCD (Mental health problem, which I used to recieve counciling for) I can't live there. My mum doesn't seem to care about this and is trying to force me to live there ignoring my condition but I really can't manage it. I have nowhere else to go and stay and, in my current situation obviously can't afford to go private and pay my own rent. I've tried sorting this out in every way I can think of but it isn't working...

My questions are:
Am I eligable to be put on the list?

If I fit the criteria to be put on the housing list, will my mums house be taken away, seeing as she'd technically no longer need 3 rooms?

What help would I get with bills / rent?

How do I go about getting on the list?

And generally anything else I should know? (Because at the moment I know barely anything about this and the official website didn't help much.)

Thanks in advance for helpful replies.
-Lewis

theartfullodger

Suggest you talk to your council & ask them: Each council can have it's own property allocation priority system. However maybe leave that a bit as saying the wrong thing can make life "tricky".

It is possible/likely that they will find you "intentionally homeless" if you left a home without some understandable and provable reason (eg it burnt down or you were threatened with violence & report that threat to the Police..).

Is there no hope of going back to mum???

Problem with MH is proving things...

Maybe talk to Shelter (0808 800 44444 but expect a long wait & remember they are a Charity under a lot of pressure at the moment..)

Also see
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/help_from_the_council

Cheers! Hope it works out

Lodger

Smashing

How does your OCD stop you from living there?

silvercar

Am I eligable to be put on the list?

Probably not because your Mum is prepared to house you and you are "choosing" not to be housed. Therefore you are making yourself voluntarily homeless.

If I fit the criteria to be put on the housing list, will my mums house be taken away, seeing as she'd technically no longer need 3 rooms?
Unlikely if she is already in the property or couldn't be reasonably expected to know that you living in a larger home would cause you issues big enough to make yourself homeless.

What help would I get with bills / rent?
If you were seen as eligible you may get local housing allowance, but only the under-25 shared house rate. This should be enough to share a home with a few other young people but not enough for a home of your own. You may get income support to help with bills, but I don't know if being a full-time student would prevent this.

How do I go about getting on the list?
Apply to the local council. Bear in mind that they will investigate your case and to do so would initially house you in temporary accommodation. For a single person this would generally be bed and breakfast accommodation, but for someone under 18 I don't know if that would be appropriate.

And generally anything else I should know?
Your major problem is that the view of the council housing department may be that a move from a 2 bed flat to a 3 bed house is a good thing for your family unit and that the way forward is for you to get the appropriate help for your condition.

silvercar

If your Mum does move you are going to have to make an instant decision, to go with her or to present to the council as homeless. You would not be allowed to remain in the current property. Given the choice between the "unknown" and moving with your Mum together with your heaith issues, it appears to me that the best course of action would be to move with your Mum and get the help you need.

I say this not to minimise your problems but because living in a hostel or bed and breakfast while feeling vunerable has got to be worse than moving with your Mum.

Running_Horse

How good is your doctor?

Would they write a letter explaining your condition?

BitterAndTwisted

You say that your mother doesn't seem to care about your worries and concerns about moving home but I suspect that that really isn't the case. It's because she isn't in a position to do anything else for you but to move to a larger home which she sees as a positive thing for all of you.

Blacksheep1979

Running_Horse wrote: »

How good is your doctor?

Obviously not very good or she would be able to deal with the house move

OP - what is it about your condition and this house makes them incompatible?

carolinosourus

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

Obviously not very good or she would be able to deal with the house move

The GP probably isn't the one who has given counselling, I presume that it would have been a specialist...

squinty

You really need to seek specialist local advice.

Although you may be technically able to apply for Council Housing at 17, there are a number of councils who will not consider you for a tenancy until you are 18 as they argue that anyone under this age cannot be responsible There are ways around this such as equitable tenancies, but you need to understand local policies.

You may also apply to the council as homeless, the under Homelessness legislation 16 and 17 year old are considered as in priority needs group. However there is also recent case law that makes social services also responsible for younger people. Depending on how things work locally you may find that they work together well, but it’s just as likely that you will be passed around with no-one taking responsibility.

You will need to seek specialist advice on entitlement to benefits. You local Connexions office would be a good start.

Finally, are you sure you want to live alone? Without wishing to sound patronising, at 17 it sounds like a big adventure and very exciting having your own place. In reality it’s really tough – things are expensive and be prepared to spend more time bored and lonely in your own place. You don’t mention if you have any savings, but trying to furnish your own place for the first time is expensive – there are places where you can get 2nd hand furniture etc – but it’s the odds and sods that are expensive. Are you sure you can manage all this.

In many areas there are specialist housing schemes for younger people, these may foyers or hostels who offer help and support. The better ones offer accommodation and support for a while whilst you get used to living alone, but will also help you to find somewhere to move on to and offer support for as long as you need it. Again ask Connexions is there is anything local.

Good luck

PasturesNew

Whatever your OCD issues, I'd bet the alternatives to moving in with your mum would turn out to be worse scenarios.

At 17 you are unlikely to "count for much" on any housing lists. As a single person (OCD or not) you have to understand that the world is cruel and overcrowded and there are thousands of people with "more needs" than yours. Harsh, but most likely true.

List your OCD problems with the new arrangement and try to work out solutions until you are in a financial position to be able to pick and choose your living arrangements and be financially independent.