make do and mend for tougher times

westcoastscot

charlies-aunt wrote: »

The 'pots' have increased for this year and are increasing a lot next year and the year after for all local authorities. If you are registered with the Landlord Information Network they have obtained the info via the Freedom of Information Act & will tell members exactly how much for last year, this year and next year for your local authority.

We aren't but I shall see who in our professional network is and try and get this information, thankyou.


The key thing is that it is discretionary - so its down to one or two officers to assess the claim and make a decision.

There has to be genuine hardship and that tenants are doing their best to help themselves - its not about allowing anyone to continue to maintain a lifestyle that they can't actually afford


yes, we're very lucky being a relatively small population-wise that our housing officers in all areas are reasonable folk who know their clients well. The people I work with have very little in terms of income, possessions or life expectancy.

"We've already been told though that just because you are willing to move and a smaller house is not available does not make you eligible" - this is true, but if they are genuinely unable to afford to pay the shortfall - they can claim.. . . but the DHP Officer will expect to see that they had tried cut out all unnecessary expenditure

Time limits can be applied and our local authority looks to pay a maximum of 12 months but at the end of claim, its possible to claim again - for people who have just lost their jobs or had sudden acute illness, often just need help for a matter of weeks to tide them over until they get back on their feet.

Yes that will be the case - unfortunately my clients are in their situation for very long periods, if not for life.

I've been through our claim forms with our local DHP Officer at the council and although the forms are pretty daunting - these payments are going to be good news for those in real need

We are visiting welfare rights and housing officers individually with clients to assess impact and likelihood of assistance. Its a ridiculous situation in many ways - most of my clients are classed as extremely vulnerable and i'm not sure practically what the local authority will do. Our social housing stock is now housing association, whilst homeless services is council run. If the HA evict people for arrears in rent they would be eligible for re-housing under homeless services anyway - all it will do is negatively impact on folks health in the meantime. Be interesting to see if they go ahead and actually apply the rules strictly. You'd hope they would see sense and the bigger picture wouldn't you? I'm not confident though - I said the same thing about the charging policy for care and they applied that strictly, negatively affecting people's health who couldn't or wouldn't pay, putting them in a situation where they were then eligible for free care as they became a higher priority - effectively costing the LA more in the long term.

Interesting times Charlies-Aunt.

edited to say some of my response is in among your quote at the top - not sure how i've managed that????

WCS

Mrs_Chip

Fuddle - headscarf !

Florence22

Fuddle it's a square headscarf, thin silky fabric, (or fine wool), folded in to a triangle.
Place the wide edge round the back of your head/nape of your neck, leaving one point laying across your head and pulling the two long points up to meet it, over your ears and on to the top of your head, towards your forehead.
Knot the two long points over the top of the short and then roll them all together and tuck in securely in a roll.
Curlers optional! - Hope it makes sense!

fuddle

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Fuddle - headscarf !

Florence22 wrote: »

Fuddle it's a square headscarf, thin silky fabric, (or fine wool), folded in to a triangle.
Place the wide edge round the back of your head/nape of your neck, leaving one point laying across your head and pulling the two long points up to meet it, over your ears and on to the top of your head, towards your forehead.
Knot the two long points over the top of the short and then roll them all together and tuck in securely in a roll.
Curlers optional! - Hope it makes sense!

thank you! Makes perfect sense because I watched the vid too.

Byatt

I got this head torch, partly through GQ's praises on the winter thread or TSHTF thread ref something similar, can't remember which now, but it's fab...used it earlier as no street lights outside and unloaded my car no problem at all! I love it! Its really comfy to wear too! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0027H2GAQ/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

Got some YS bargains in the fruit and veg, 2 punnets of blackberries for 20p each and carrot batons (for the bunnies) for 20p, plus greens for 20p and kale type veg for 20p.

oops, forgot, Happy Birthday fuddle, I wish I was 33...enjoy it, it's a lovely decade.

westcoastscot

I'd like a wind-up torch - something that produces a fair bit of light as our electricity supply seems more volatile than ever this year -it was off again today - not for long but it isn't even winter yet!
Anyone got any recommendations? I like to keep something sitting by the stove where I can see it, but the batteries were flat again today
Loving the pink headtorch - we do have some of those in the house, had forgotton! must dig one out and leave it sitting - be great to knit by!
Thanks, WCS

fuddle

Well, I have sourced an old floral dress out of my wardrobe that looks destined to be turned into a head scarf.

With me making my cuppa tea, heating beans and warming through my jacket potato on the Roses tin stove tomorrow, and making my headscarf I am going to bed full of enthusiasm for a day that looked only fit for housework

Not me... I'm 33

Byatt

WCS, I got a small wind up hand held torch from Homeba$e, which I use to read in bed with. I know you mean a bigger torch and I think they were talking about them on one of the winter threads.

As I'm out and about pet sitting the head torch will be brilliant, just walking about and being able to see is great. I think I will get one for my DD.

monnagran

Fuddle: I thought the video was hilarious but I find it easier to start by making the square into a triangle then puutting the point of the triangle on your forehead and letting the wide bit hang down behind your head.

Then you can bring the wide bit up over the back of your head to the top in front, tie it firmly over the pointed bit and then it's easy to tuck the sides in , tuck the triangle back over the knot and tie another knot to keep the whole thing anchored.
Trust me. I used to watch my mother and aunt do it all the time during the war.
A word of warning. Don't try it with slippery material, your arms will drop off before you do it successfully. And you need a pretty big square.

Good luck

x

monnagran

Sorry, I forgot. Don't forget the bright red lipstick and the ciggy.