Any chance of me getting discretionary extra HB

luminated

We live in a two bedroom home but making medium term plans to move nearer our family because of our age and health.

I am on MRC & HRM and have very unsettled nights due to a number of separate health issues. Similarly my wife also has very unsettled nights due to get heath issues. So we often sleep in separate bedrooms and whilst it is tempting to say get single beds the disruption is more than flailing in bed but for numerous reasons having to put the light on and do things or get things. I make it sound like not much but I especially am very disruptive.

So is there any chance we could think about asking for discretionary extra payments to be able to stay in a two bedroom house rather than be forced into one bedroom. I must stress I have oversimplified each of our needs which are much more complex.

PS At Live in the House of Commons yesterday Ian Duncan Smith kept repeating the mantra that they have put substantially more money aside to pay for more discretionary HB payments.

Horseunderwater

All you can do is ask and they will either say yes or know. Go into full details of what happens during a typical night and see what they say.

paddedjohn

How old are you? Aren't pensioners exempt (if this applies)

luminated

paddedjohn wrote: »

How old are you? Aren't pensioners exempt (if this applies)

Both on state pensions just & we're in private rented.

pmlindyloo

The 'Bedroom Tax' does not apply to privately rented accommodation.

You can move into a 2 bed property but you will only receive the local housing allowance for a 1 bed property and you can make up the difference in rent yourself from your other benefits.

No one will force you to move into a one bed place.

Are you receiving HB at the moment?

luminated

pmlindyloo wrote: »

The 'Bedroom Tax' does not apply to privately rented accommodation.

You can move into a 2 bed property but you will only receive the local housing allowance for a 1 bed property and you can make up the difference in rent yourself from your other benefits.

No one will force you to move into a one bed place.

Are you receiving HB at the moment?

Just started on HB/CTB for the first time ever and also just started my OAP.

I know it is my choice to get a two bedroomed place but making up £200 PM which would be the difference is a big ask. Yes I get other benefits but being ill & disabled does incur a lot of extra expense already.

pmlindyloo

I notice from your previous posts that you are moving to a more expensive area.

Have you checked out what the local housing allowance is for that area as they vary quite a lot?

It could be that you won't have to find as much as you thought.

You can certainly apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment but I beleive that a lot of the money set aside is going to be taken up by social housing tenants who are having to pay the 'Bedroom Tax'.

luminated

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I notice from your previous posts that you are moving to a more expensive area.

Have you checked out what the local housing allowance is for that area as they vary quite a lot?

It could be that you won't have to find as much as you thought.

You can certainly apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment but I beleive that a lot of the money set aside is going to be taken up by social housing tenants who are having to pay the 'Bedroom Tax'.

It looks likely we will have to move to a more expensive area if we wish to be closer to family which is a bummer. I keep looking at Rightmove and working things out but I'm afraid my processer (brain) isn't what is was :eek:

Yes the LHA can be up to £200 more than where we are at the moment. Our easier option is to keep going but we know we really need to have family nearer to hand should the needs arise. At the moment no one is closer than a 4 hour drive.

Apart from sleeping issues I have to face up to the amount of kit being disabled brings - wheelchair, second electric wheelchair, perching stool x two, in home zimmer mainly for night time use, loads of walking sticks, toilet frames & I would dearly love an electric scooter to get out and be in control of which way I go :T.

Yes I need to ask but maybe should discuss with my GP to see if he will support me.

BigAunty

luminated wrote: »

...

So is there any chance we could think about asking for discretionary extra payments to be able to stay in a two bedroom house rather than be forced into one bedroom. ...

Yes, though you are probably also aware that as it's discretionary, you may not necessarily get it and it is bound to be time-limited. Also, I doubt that you can apply for it in advance of signing a new tenancy agreement so that's a risk you are just going to have to take.

Is it feasible (or not) to find a 1 bedroom property with a spacious lounge or dining space where you can put the second single bed in?

luminated

BigAunty wrote: »

Yes, though you are probably also aware that as it's discretionary, you may not necessarily get it and it is bound to be time-limited. Also, I doubt that you can apply for it in advance of signing a new tenancy agreement so that's a risk you are just going to have to take.

Is it feasible (or not) to find a 1 bedroom property with a spacious lounge or dining space where you can put the second single bed in?

Yes I realise discretionary & time limited & couldn't be agreed in advance so it would be a big risk.

I need to look for a 1 bedroomed with a big cupboard with a window. A single bed in living space is adding yet another unsavoury dimension to being seriously ill & disabled on top of a nightmare year of several different emergencies including heart attacks, cardiac arrests & currently being assessed for possible mini stroke last week. Life is sure a s*** for me but there are those who are in a worse position.

Dunroamin

luminated wrote: »

It looks likely we will have to move to a more expensive area if we wish to be closer to family which is a bummer. I keep looking at Rightmove and working things out but I'm afraid my processer (brain) isn't what is was :eek:

Yes the LHA can be up to £200 more than where we are at the moment. Our easier option is to keep going but we know we really need to have family nearer to hand should the needs arise. At the moment no one is closer than a 4 hour drive.

Apart from sleeping issues I have to face up to the amount of kit being disabled brings - wheelchair, second electric wheelchair, perching stool x two, in home zimmer mainly for night time use, loads of walking sticks, toilet frames & I would dearly love an electric scooter to get out and be in control of which way I go :T.

Yes I need to ask but maybe should discuss with my GP to see if he will support me.

A small property with a garage might help; that's where we store my husband's mobility equipment.