mortgages in the 80,s

bgmb

Anyone remember during the 80,s people on benefits were allowed mortgages on a rent to buy?
well unfortunatly my husband and i were not one of those allowed the mortgages, my husband worked full time i was a stay at home mum as my son was quite ill as a toddler, therefore we didnt earn enough to get a usual mortgage, but earned enough to pay full rent on the house we were allocated by a h/a in 1980, we continued to pay full rent until 2 years ago when my husband was taken ill and i had to give up my beloved job to care for him fulltime, so we claimed benefits, i felt so degraded, but was assured by various care agencies etc that we were entitled to them to ensure my husband had a quality of life.
And now we have been told i have to pay £100 per month out of benefits as we have 2 "spare " rooms,,,,, well i sleep in one as my husband has challenging behaviour ( symtom of his illness ) and when i have a carer stay approx 2/3 nights a week so i can sleep she uses the other bedroom. i am at my end with worry. how to pay this £100, if we had been on benefits in the 80,s we wouldnt be facing this now, but because we worked the past 30 plus years i have this added worry.

rogerblack

A carer who stays regularly may eliminate one of the bedrooms.
As I understand it, the problem of your bedroom would remain however.
In principle, you can ask for a discretionary housing payment, but this will be limited for a short period typically.

BigAunty

A bedroom is not included in the HB reduction policy if it is used by a non-resident overnight carer. Do you receive carers allowance or does this external person, is it someone provided by local social services?

bgmb

hi, yes i claim carers, also the night sitter does not live with us, we have various care agencies involved in my husbands care,
i hope that we will be exempt from at least part of the reduction,

BigAunty

bgmb wrote: »

hi, yes i claim carers, also the night sitter does not live with us, we have various care agencies involved in my husbands care,
i hope that we will be exempt from at least part of the reduction,

Check with your council about this exemption. I'm not sure how it works when there is someone who is the designated carer who resides in the property but they'll know if the rules cover an external carer, too.