Yet another bedroom tax problem

Danny_10

Ive lived in my bungalow for 20+ years

I dont smoke, drink or have pets or a car

Between the council & the private housing group they have spent £15,000+ adapting my bungalow for me and my wheelchair as ive not been able to even stand up since 1994

With the cost of food & heating going up so much this year plus the bedroom tax my monthly bills are now £115 a month more than they were this time last year (£60 bedroom tax, £40 food & £15 electric)

I have not been able to pay the electricity monthly payments demand increase from £102 to £140 earlier this year and then the new 10% rise they now want £158 a month where im struggling to pay the £102

Ive not been able to pay the bedroom tax at all and have told the council & housing group i need help but they have both said no

Today i got a notice saying i need to pay £540 or they will start the eviction process

Im a bit worried as being in a wheelchair 24/7 and living on my own will they just tell me to get out and leave me outside my bungalow sitting in my chair with no where to go as i have no friends or family who have a house i could get in let alone use a toilet or get showered?

I have spoken to them twice and they said that if the councils discretionary fund says no then thats the end of it

ive just looked online at my bank and from jan 2013 to today my benefits have gone up £4.25 a week (£17 a month) but just my electricity & bedroom tax bills have gone up £85 ish a month

how am i supposed to deal with that?

before anyone looks at this posts and then says that i have in one place said one thing and then another its different by a pound or two dont point that out as i am estimating some of these numbers

i have asked them if there are any 1 bedroom places with wheelchair access in the area they said no, i then pointed out that to change the bathroom, kitchen and access would probably cost £20,000+ and they had no answer

in my street there are 4 bungalows and all 4 of the people are being told to pay up or get out

in the whole of my area there are 3 1 bed flats and zero bungalows

what do i do

theartfullodger

Contact local CaB, book an appointment and get help from them.. put your post code in here & it will give you the local office...
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/about_this_site/get_advice.htm

Have you actually applied for DHP?? (Discretionary Housing Payments)?? - from your local council?? If not yet do apply, but get advice from CaB on how to,

Sorry to hear this evil benefit cut has hit you.

Hope it works out

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Do you have an overnight carer? Even if only for a few nights per week?

pmlindyloo

I agree with a visit to CAB or asking for a home visit if they do them would be the best option.

Looking at it from another aspect - ie checking that you have applied for all the benefits you are entitled to - can you tell us which benefits you are on please?

We may be able to suggest special utility tariffs if we know and also up your income if you are entitled to something else.

pmlindyloo

Oh and before I forget, if you haven't got a good sized CAB near to you or they are very busy then give your local councillor a ring or visit him/her. They often can give the council a kick up the ****.

Yours is exactly the kind of case that the Discretionary Housing Payment was set up for and I am quite sure that your local councillor would be very interested in these particular circumstances.

princessdon

Are you claiming all relevant benefits?

tonyciclo

Danny_10 wrote: »

Ive lived in my bungalow for 20+ years

I dont smoke, drink or have pets or a car

Between the council & the private housing group they have spent £15,000+ adapting my bungalow for me and my wheelchair as ive not been able to even stand up since 1994

With the cost of food & heating going up so much this year plus the bedroom tax my monthly bills are now £115 a month more than they were this time last year (£60 bedroom tax, £40 food & £15 electric)

I have not been able to pay the electricity monthly payments demand increase from £102 to £140 earlier this year and then the new 10% rise they now want £158 a month where im struggling to pay the £102

Ive not been able to pay the bedroom tax at all and have told the council & housing group i need help but they have both said no

Today i got a notice saying i need to pay £540 or they will start the eviction process

Im a bit worried as being in a wheelchair 24/7 and living on my own will they just tell me to get out and leave me outside my bungalow sitting in my chair with no where to go as i have no friends or family who have a house i could get in let alone use a toilet or get showered?

I have spoken to them twice and they said that if the councils discretionary fund says no then thats the end of it

ive just looked online at my bank and from jan 2013 to today my benefits have gone up £4.25 a week (£17 a month) but just my electricity & bedroom tax bills have gone up £85 ish a month

how am i supposed to deal with that?

before anyone looks at this posts and then says that i have in one place said one thing and then another its different by a pound or two dont point that out as i am estimating some of these numbers

i have asked them if there are any 1 bedroom places with wheelchair access in the area they said no, i then pointed out that to change the bathroom, kitchen and access would probably cost £20,000+ and they had no answer

in my street there are 4 bungalows and all 4 of the people are being told to pay up or get out

in the whole of my area there are 3 1 bed flats and zero bungalows

what do i do

Private let that may already be adapted??

tonyciclo

princessdon wrote: »

Are you claiming all relevant benefits?

In the past haven't I seen posts from you decrying people that attempt to maximise their benefits? Or maybe I am wrong and have mistook you for someone else?

custardy

tonyciclo wrote: »

In the past haven't I seen posts from you decrying people that attempt to maximise their benefits? Or maybe I am wrong and have mistook you for someone else?

in the past 29 days?

princessdon

tonyciclo wrote: »

In the past haven't I seen posts from you decrying people that attempt to maximise their benefits? Or maybe I am wrong and have mistook you for someone else?

Play nicely mr A

xylophone

Yours is exactly the kind of case that the Discretionary Housing Payment was set up for and I am quite sure that your local councillor would be very interested in these particular circumstances.

http://www.cih.org/news-article/display/vpathDCR/templatedata/cih/news-article/data/The_bedroom_tax_and_disabled_tenants

"Many members of the public and even, shockingly, many MPs seem to believe that disabled tenants are either exempt from the bedroom tax or generously protected via the discretionary housing payment (DHP) system. This is not true.

The only significant exemption on grounds of disability is for a room for an overnight carer for either the named tenant or spouse."

It would appear that the OH does not have an overnight carer but his daughter sometimes uses the room. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/55644149#Comment_55644149