ESA appeal and "bedroom tax" double whammy!

hockeylass

Hi everyone

Sorry to bother you with this, its perhaps more of a rant than a cry for help as I don't suppose anything can be done!

My mum is currently being hit from all angles where her benefits are concerned and I'm actually starting to worry about her mental health over it all, as she is so fraught with worry she's not sleeping.

To outline the basics my mother has sarcoidosis (for which she has parts of her lungs missing), secondary osteo-arthritis leading to a curvature of the spine and swollen knees, feet and hands, fibromyalgia with associated nerve and bladder problems, carpal tunnel syndrome and permicious anaemia. I think there are more things but I can't remember them all! Frankly its a miracle she's still going, but her 52-year old body i smore like an 80 year olds.

Anyway after more than 20 years of contributory based incapacity benefit she's been moved, without medical, onto WRAG. She went to her first interview and was told she could appeal, so she did. What the woman didn't say was that while it was under appeal, her benefits would be cut by £25 a week, and no word on when her appeal will be heard.

At the same time she's being quizzed by the local authorities about this bedroom tax. She currently lives in the house the council gave her in 1993 for her, her then husband, me and my sister. Granted, she is the only one left but it is adapted to her needs, and regardless of the black-and-white nature of the tax it is her HOME. But now it seems they're going to want almost quadruple the rent she currently contributes towards. So potentially, she could go from getting somewhere in the region of £500 a month in benefit, to £400, and have to pay an extra £120 a month in rent. Leaving her the grand total of £280 to pay all her bills, put petrol in the car and food in her mouth.

It's pitiful. Criminals get better treatment than this.

What can she do in the mean time? I'd love to say I earned enough to bail her out until the appeal but I can't. She's desperate, and I am too.

Any advice gratefully received.
Clare

cockaleekee

Criminals get better treatment? You'll find they are only entitled to one bedroom, and often have to share that.

Whilst her ESA appeal is heard she should remain on the WRAG rate. However, she may have been on a higher rate due to received transitional protection from IB - someone else will be able to clarify what affect this has. How much was she receiving, and how much is she on now?

How many bedrooms does the house have? Has she looked at what other properties are available in the area? Each area is different, but the one type of property that is available in my area is 1 bed flats for the over 50s.

asdf1982

but i thought the bedroom tax didnt apply to disabled people?!

hockeylass

Well you get my drift, all the wrongdoers of society don't lose sleep like people like my mum bless her. It just seems so horribly unfair.

I will admit I don't know what components she has on her benefit. All I know is its about £25 less, and then according to their forecasts dropping again by another £10 a week later in the year. Where she's been put on contributory WRAG as well (because she was on contributory IB) it ends in 12 months and then she's on her own!

It is a three-bed home, and having looked at homeswapper there are about three properties in her area which might suit, although we know these are trouble-spots with crime and anti-social behaviour. A vulnerable person wouldn't want to live there, if you know what I mean.

I understand the logic behind the bedroom tax but its such a tough pill to swallow on its own, without the stress of the ESA hanging over her as well.

hockeylass

asdf1982 - it would appear it does.

There's a story around about a family who have a three bed house, with a healthy child in one, and a profoundly disabled child in the other. Because they are legally entitled to share (Despite the fact the disabled child needs specialist care equipement etc) the government is charging them for having one too many bedrooms.

No heart, no soul eh?

cockaleekee

She is not on her own after twelve months, she can apply for income based ESA (assuming no other household income or savings over £16,000).

She could look at renting a private property?

Caz3121

asdf1982 wrote: »

but i thought the bedroom tax didnt apply to disabled people?!

It does, I think pensioners are the only exclusion

cockaleekee

hockeylass wrote: »

asdf1982 - it would appear it does.

There's a story around about a family who have a three bed house, with a healthy child in one, and a profoundly disabled child in the other. Because they are legally entitled to share (Despite the fact the disabled child needs specialist care equipement etc) the government is charging them for having one too many bedrooms.

No heart, no soul eh?

I have seen that story on Facebook. Whilst I appreciate it seems heartless, the reality is that family will have an extremely healthy income from benefits.

pmlindyloo

First of all, is your mum receiving DLA?

Next, have you been to the council and asked for help with her housing needs particularly since the house has been specially adapted for her.


I think that this is one of those cases where a discretionary Housing payment made be made while alternative accommodation is found.


Enlisting your MP's support may also be a good idea.

hockeylass

I think the problem with private rent is that it would need to be adapted for her needs (easy taps, stairlift if stairs etc) and the housing allowance here on the IW is low. That and the excessive deposits they require too! So no I don't think private rent is an option sadly.

cockaleekee

hockeylass wrote: »

I think the problem with private rent is that it would need to be adapted for her needs (easy taps, stairlift if stairs etc) and the housing allowance here on the IW is low. That and the excessive deposits they require too! So no I don't think private rent is an option sadly.

The LA has funds to make adaptations to private rentals.

The LHA rate is low, which is why those on HB with excess bedrooms are having their payments lowered - the current system is massively unfair.

The LA has funds available to help with deposits.