ESA appeal and "bedroom tax" double whammy!

mazza111

First things first.

Don't panic. She's appealing the ESA decision. If she's already been placed in WRAG. Then that's £99/week. Support Group (the highest) would be £105/week. So that's only a drop of £6. It would have been a drop of £25 to £71 if she had been found fit for work. So you have been misadvised there. She will get the £99/week.

I think you hint a load of sarcasm from nannytone in that post :rotfl:

What would be beneficial to know is what rate of DLA she's getting. If she's getting the higher rate of care, and needs someone to sleep over regularly then she could be allowed a 2 bedroom rate.

There is also the discretionary housing payment. This has been put aside for disabled people who's houses are adapted. It is as it says in the title, discretionary, and not guaranteed, but might be worthwhile applying for it, and each local council has different criteria for allowing it.

Own_My_Own

hockeylass wrote: »

But what is the whole story? With respect? I am all for a better distribution of social housing but there are two really big points in my mind
1) many people have made them their home, their actual family home. Like my mother, she was denied the chance to buy her own bricks and mortar, and treats her home like a palace. Its immaculate and loved so much
2) It's all well and good saying that a family doesn't need an extra bedroom, but where is the house for them in the right area for schools or work, available. There's no movement within the market, unless the LA forcibly makes tenants swap houses. So in essence, the LA and govt doesn't care about filling bedrooms, just making money out of empty ones.

I am really sorry for any heartache this is calling, but I rent privately and am finding this all a bit much.

I have always had to pay towards my rent as it is higher than the LHA, as are 99% of the houses in my area. I would also have to pay for any spare rooms we have.

My son has ASD and finds moving very difficult and stressful, but he has had to do it 3 times.

I have had to find deposits 3 times and a months rent in advance. ( Although I have had these back from 2 houses, still in 3rd). I have also had to find the removal money.

As I said, I do not wish heartache on anyone, but you are now just going to treated the same as I have been for the last 16 years.

And even with the bedroom tax you are still not paying as much as me in rent.

princessdon

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I am really sorry for any heartache this is calling, but I rent privately and am finding this all a bit much.

I have always had to pay towards my rent as it is higher than the LHA, as are 99% of the houses in my area. I would also have to pay for any spare rooms we have.

My son has ASD and finds moving difficult, but he has had to do it 3 times.

I have had to find deposits 3 times and a months rent in advance. ( Although I have had these back from 2 houses, still in 3rd). I have also had to find the removal money.

As I said, I do not wish heartache on anyone, but you are now just going to treated the same as I have been for the last 16 years.

And even with the bedroom tax you are still not paying as much as me in rent.

I think history is part of the problem. In private rental you are left with no uncertainty it isn't your home (only when a house is paid for and not mortgaged is any building your home). Private renters know the house belongs to someone else, their rents can change, they can be asked to move etc.

For many years social housing tenants have believed that the house they live in is their home until they decide otherwise. Lifetime, hand down secured tenancies created this feeling.

Own_My_Own

princessdon wrote: »

I think history is part of the problem. In private rental you are left with no uncertainty it isn't your home (only when a house is paid for and not mortgaged is any building your home). Private renters know the house belongs to someone else, their rents can change, they can be asked to move etc.

For many years social housing tenants have believed that the house they live in is their home until they decide otherwise. Lifetime, hand down secured tenancies created this feeling.

But it is still their home. They have not lost it. They have not been asked to leave. It has not been repossessed.

They have simply been asked to pay for it.

nannytone_2

so whay youre saying is that because you dont have secure tenure, than no one should?'

i moved almost 18 months ago, and as a blind person, i am still trying to adapt to my surroundings.
there is no way i can allow myself to be in a position where moving again and again is even a possibility. your son also has you to help him adjust. i have no one... i have to adjust on my own, and you shouldnt underestimate how important the support of other people is.

as a family, your benefit entitlement reflects this. it is very different for a singleton. if you are a family of 3, then a small percentage of everyones benefi

Own_My_Own

nannytone wrote: »

so whay youre saying is that because you dont have secure tenure, than no one should?'

Who is taking the secure tenure off you ?

You are being asked to pay for a bedroom you don't need, not move out next month.

mazza111

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Who is taking the secure tenure off you ?

You are being asked to pay for a bedroom you don't need, not move out next month.

But maybe she can't afford to pay for that bedroom as she can't work..... You ever thought there may be no smaller suitable housing available?

Own_My_Own

mazza111 wrote: »

But maybe she can't afford to pay for that bedroom as she can't work..... You ever thought there may be no smaller suitable housing available?

Anybody that is incapable of working would get ESA and probably DLA. These are not small benefits.

And yes I know not everyone in a council house is disabled.

mazza111

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Anybody that is incapable of working would get ESA and probably DLA. These are not small benefits.

And yes I know not everyone in a council house is disabled.

Sorry but that probably is WRONG!

There are many people that are on ESA that don't get DLA. I am unable to work, but do not get, nor would apply for DLA. As I don't feel I'm quite there yet. And yes. ESA can pay a little more than JSA, but not as much as you're making out.

nannytone_2

not every disability attracts the higher rates of benefit.
not only is housing benefit decreasin, but so is council tax benefit, and with PIP rolling out, there is every possibility that more benefit entitlement will be lost.

higer rates of benefit is paid to thos unable to work, because historically it has been understood that we have no choice in our circumstances, and that we deserve a quality of life as we are in no position to be able to help ourselves.

now we are being put in a position where are having to make choicesabout which necessity we cant afford each month.

i looked for one bed social housing in my area ( rural, and covering a very large area) being blind, familiarity is a big need for me. i wouldnt be able to sope in an unfamiliar place, without the support i have where i live now. but out of interest, i cevered the whole of my district councils area.

there were 3 properties. 1 bedsit and 2 sheltered housing for pensioners.

wheres the choice?