sick of being stuck in a housing rut!

fellwalker09

Hi. Just wanted to chip in and suggest you ring the dla and request a pack to complete. You can get help with completing the forms -tells you in the pack. I have completed them for my son who has a physical disability and i assisted my mum who has severe arthritis of spine and hips, knees etc. You definitely sound hopeful of qualifying for it and if you need help with getting around, you ought to qualify for the mobility component.
As for the housing I'm shocked the private rents are so high -i'm in the north west and you can get a 3 bed from £450 upwards.
The council -helps to have as many letters of support re your condition and need for suitable housing. We have a housing support team for one of our local housing associations -check this out -ask at your housing office or ring the individual housing associations up -they can offer advice re your particular situation and may be able to put you in a higher priority category for housing.
Its very time consuming and stressful and it doesn't help when 'clever' people come along here and make judgemental comments, to which I note you have attempted to justify yourself -which you do not have to do. They clearly have nothing better to do so I would not even bother giving them the satisfaction of a reply. Thankfully most have tried to help. Its a cliche, but a fact none the less, 'he/she who shout's loudest, gets' and believe me, I've had to shout quite often for my son, and it tends to work. Sometimes I wonder if people just become ingrained in the bubble of work and for a moment it escapes their attention that many of us are struggling and need that little bit extra - a shout generally helps. Keep your chin up and think positive -don't let them get you down -you will get there in the end. Best of luck.:A

new_home_owner_3

abi-em-mum83 wrote: »

Hi I have had some health issues and currently weighing 19st/size 24. I am desperately trying to lose weight, and getting there at about 3lbs a week. However we are going on holiday in July and planning a trip to either Pleasure beach at Blackpool or Alton Towers. However I am very worried about not being able to fit on the rides. We went to Blackpool last year while at a size 22 and I was able to fit on all the big rides (was a tight fit on Big One). What are the seats like at Alton Towers? The last time we went I was a size 12 so didnt have these worries, but while there I witnessed an overweight person get thrown off a ride for being too big. I dont think my depression could cope with that happening to me!
As I say Im working hard at losing weight and should be a size 22 and hopefully at most 19st by time we go away.

If your that ill you cant take your kids to school and do normal things, i dont think it will be a good idea you going on the big dipper at blackpool.:cool:

i think your off work with depression, as you state in this you dont think your depression could take it.......

My advice to you would be lose some weight get some self confidence back and get out and do some work, you dont get to 19 stone by having a baby...

inspirespirit

You need to actually go down to your local housing hub.
Last year, due to a divorce, I was in private rented accommodation with disabled son. My own health had deteriorated (osteoarthritis in both knees), to the point where I literally could not get up the stairs to use the toilet/bathroom or bedrooms. This also meant I could not get my son up either. I was bidding on houses every week but nothing ever happened. I was having to literally use the kitchen as a bathroom, which was awful, especially as it was open plan.
I phoned and phoned and phoned and begged someone to come and inspect and assess us and was continually told they didn't do things like that. Someone then told me to actually go into the hub and demand to speak to a housing officer - so I did.
Once I actually got to sit in front of someone, instead of on the phone, things started to move. She fetched her supervisor, who then spoke to someone else, etc. etc.
Within a week 2 housing officers came to my home to inspect the house and myself (I got letters from my doctor and consultant for proof of my condition and mobility). They literally classed me as homeless as the property was not suitable for living in with our conditions. Within 4 weeks we were moved into a house specifically built for people with disabilities with extra wide doors, downstairs loo etc.
The difference it has made to our lives is just unbelievable. I feel I have my dignity back.
Once I got the right people involved, they were so so helpful it was unbelievable.

So I would say actually go down to the HQ of your local council offices and plead for a housing officer to visit and assess you.
Good luck.

Uncle_Rico

£130,000 to buy a tiny 3 bed
£1000pcm to rent a tiny 3 bed

Those figures don't sound right to me.

abi-em-mum83

new_home_owner wrote: »

If your that ill you cant take your kids to school and do normal things, i dont think it will be a good idea you going on the big dipper at blackpool.:cool:

i think your off work with depression, as you state in this you dont think your depression could take it.......

My advice to you would be lose some weight get some self confidence back and get out and do some work, you dont get to 19 stone by having a baby...

Wow wouldnt it be great to have nothing better to do but stalk someone on a website for previous threads for the sake of trying to upset them! Its funny how you havent quoted any of the other threads that ask if I would qualify for DLA and go into detail of daily struggle and medical ailments I have. I wonder if you maybe work for the SUN, they seem to like quoting out of context for humiliation!!
Not that Im going to justify myself, but that thread was put up for my sisters behalf. She is coming on holiday with us and does not have access to internet. She is taking my children to a theme park as I cant. I would quite happily show proof that I am no where near that size, as well as scan the medical notes that show weight is nothing to do with my health problems!
Self confidence is not a problem, and the depression is a recent thing, brought on by the situation, not caused by it. I would love to work again, have always worked hard, and have tried to return to work but with disasterous consequences.
But thanks for your reply none of the less, nice to know I filled some of the empty life you have!

As to reply to the lovely people who have genuinely tried to help, thanks very much. There has been some great suggestions. I have some aids in the home (to help with getting into bath etc, that OT have fitted). Unfortunately the biggest problem I have is the sheer amount of stairs to get into my home. They are liking climbing everest when I am in pain. I have already sent in the DLA applications and received help with these from Welfare Rights. Just had my painkillers changed tofay actually, as the Dihydracodeine is making no difference, they have given me Sebredol (sp?) which are morphine. However I havent been able to get them yet as my partner went in the chemist with the prescription and was told unless he had ID he couldnt get them!Hoping tomorrow they'll accept him taking my ID in with his own!


I really do wish we could help ourselves get a suitable

abi-em-mum83

Uncle_Rico wrote: »

£130,000 to buy a tiny 3 bed
£1000pcm to rent a tiny 3 bed

Those figures don't sound right to me.

Hi I think it might be on the first page, but I have pasted a link to a website showing the types of properties available to buy and lease. A tiny 3 bed in a very bad area of Aberdeen city that would need a lot of work is approx offers over £120,000. The same types of property is from £900 upwards to rent. There are cheaper places to rent but these are in outlying areas, even then they are £750 upwards. Its shocking because my sister rents a house in Liverpool for £400 and its 3 beds,lovely gardens, brand new kitchen etc. Unfortunately you dont get much for your money in Aberdeen!

abi-em-mum83

moomaa wrote: »

Sorry I don't have much advice about your housing situation but I wanted to sympathise about the pain you are in. I had a very similiar problem but I wanted to tell you that very slowly it did get better. I had regular accupuncture (free from the GP) and that helped the pain a bit and helped me feel more mobile. The physio and exercises did do some good, I think you need the right physio though. The best thing for me, once I was good enough to get out the house was pilates. The teacher took one look at me and moved my body into a different posture and immediately I felt a small amount of relief. With regular pilates I slowly got better enough to start living life again. 4 years on I am still aware that side of my body is 'not right' and am sometimes in pain, but it is all manageable. Good luck, I hope you get better too.

Hi thanks so much for your reply. I had never thought of acupuncture, its definately something I will bring up with my doctor! I have been doing some pilates and finding it is improving some areas. I always thought yoga and pilates was for hippies but by gosh was i wrong. Pilates is fantastic! I am desperate to get back to doing aerobics though, and especially dying to be able to try Zumba! I can look forward to that day. Its really nice to hear that your getting better, Im sure the last few years I have been really hard for you but heres hoping you only carry on improving and very soon have a pain free life!xx

abi-em-mum83

inspirespirit wrote: »

You need to actually go down to your local housing hub.
Last year, due to a divorce, I was in private rented accommodation with disabled son. My own health had deteriorated (osteoarthritis in both knees), to the point where I literally could not get up the stairs to use the toilet/bathroom or bedrooms. This also meant I could not get my son up either. I was bidding on houses every week but nothing ever happened. I was having to literally use the kitchen as a bathroom, which was awful, especially as it was open plan.
I phoned and phoned and phoned and begged someone to come and inspect and assess us and was continually told they didn't do things like that. Someone then told me to actually go into the hub and demand to speak to a housing officer - so I did.
Once I actually got to sit in front of someone, instead of on the phone, things started to move. She fetched her supervisor, who then spoke to someone else, etc. etc.
Within a week 2 housing officers came to my home to inspect the house and myself (I got letters from my doctor and consultant for proof of my condition and mobility). They literally classed me as homeless as the property was not suitable for living in with our conditions. Within 4 weeks we were moved into a house specifically built for people with disabilities with extra wide doors, downstairs loo etc.
The difference it has made to our lives is just unbelievable. I feel I have my dignity back.
Once I got the right people involved, they were so so helpful it was unbelievable.

So I would say actually go down to the HQ of your local council offices and plead for a housing officer to visit and assess you.
Good luck.

Good on you for fighting for suitable housing! Can I ask a possibly private question, and feel free to tell me to bog off, but with having osteoarthiritis, do you ever feel people dont take your health problems seriously? I facing a lot of problems because people cant SEE a physical disability or deformity they dont beleive its real. I wonder if thats why we struggle to get them to see the problems we face. I invite anyone to spend a day with me and see how, like yourself sometimes I sometimes have to use kitchen as bathroom (the most disgusting undignified thing Ive ever had to do). How my partner has to help me dress some days, and he makes a packed lunch for ME before he goes to work, just so I dont have to stand for a while preparing food etc! Even simple things like buying shoes (when I can afford to) isnt simple. Cant wear anything with heels,have to be supportive etc. I miss the days of sexy high heels!lol xxx

Wickedkitten

abi-em-mum83 wrote: »

Hi I think it might be on the first page, but I have pasted a link to a website showing the types of properties available to buy and lease. A tiny 3 bed in a very bad area of Aberdeen city that would need a lot of work is approx offers over £120,000. The same types of property is from £900 upwards to rent. There are cheaper places to rent but these are in outlying areas, even then they are £750 upwards. Its shocking because my sister rents a house in Liverpool for £400 and its 3 beds,lovely gardens, brand new kitchen etc. Unfortunately you dont get much for your money in Aberdeen!

There are plenty of 2 bedroom flats near the city centre for less than £700 and you could just give the kids the bigger bedroom with a couple of bunk beds, plus there are more than a few that are ground floor so you wouldn't have to worry about stairs.

alison39

Hi abiem

I live in Aberdeenshire and I know how expensive the rents and house prices are in the city. I think you really have to weigh up the pros and cons of moving out of the city to stay somewhere cheaper, you could rent a 3/4 bedroom house with housing associations very reasonably in the peterhead, ellon area. At the end of the day the stress of being overcrowded (I have been there many years ago) will only add to the pain that you are in and make it less manageable. I commute to work and its not so bad, a lot of my colleagues car share to reduce costs. you need to visit your gp, health visitor, councillor to increase the strength of your case and gain extra points. Unfortunately I know of so many other families who are also living in overcrowded houses, keep trying the homehunt website and make sure you have that option ticked for housing associations on your council house application. Keep positive and good luck