Homeless People - Benefits Entitlement?

mimi1234

Hi all.

Hope everyone is OK.

I am unsure if this is the wrong section to post this under, so apologies in advance if it is.

I was in Manchester today and saw about 10 homeless people, sleeping in the street. Would people like this not be entitled to any kind of support or benefits? My heart went out to a lady who was sleeping outside and some child dropped a slice of pizza, so she scuffled over and ate it. I bought her a coffee and a sandwich as I felt so sorry for her. I did want to give her some money, but there was an empty bottle of some sort of alcoholic drink near her so I decided not to. I know I shouldn't judge and all that.

I know there are projects such as No Second Night Out so homeless people can get support with housing (I don't know if it's available in Manchester though), but surely they would be entitled to some kind of money as well? Or do they get money and they spend it all on something else?

Sorry if I am being really thick, I don't know how the benefits system works.

[Deleted User]

Homeless people are entitled to the same benefits as everyone else. Usually claiming to the address of a hostel, shelter or drop in. Some may not claim due to not accessing any of those services but many do.

They get housing benefit to pay for hostels, job seekers or ESA to live on and disability benefits if entitled.

Can be sporadic though due to inability to keep up with the requirements placed on them, signing on, being available for work and courses, medicals etc. Also difficulty in receiving mail on time if they do not attend the address they are using for a while.

Sadly many on the streets spend what they do get on substances that put them on the streets or they now use to block out their situation and fit in with others there. So food is one of the last things on the list to buy if and when they get any payments.

mimi1234

Thanks for that information _SHEL. Oh I see. I thought they end up begging because they are not allowed anything at all. I guess if they have addictions, unless they can get help, it's a vicious circle. Cripes.

TELLIT01

Homeless can certainly obtain benefits but the money often ends up being either poured down their throat or stuck in their arms! There have been suggestions that benefits could be made by way of food or accommodation vouchers but then the 'human rights' brigade start screaming!!!!!

mimi1234

KEITHT53 thanks for your response. I was not aware that the people on the streets were entitled to benefits. I thought they genuinely had no money whatsoever.

I am kind of pro the food/accommodation vouchers but as my post suggests, I am don't really understand the benefits system to fully agree with it.

PoorCharleyBear

There used to be (not sure if same now) a daily allowance for NFAs (no fixed abode). They collected their money daily to prevent spending on one binge...

dandelionclock30

mimi1234 wrote: »

Thanks for that information _SHEL. Oh I see. I thought they end up begging because they are not allowed anything at all. I guess if they have addictions, unless they can get help, it's a vicious circle. Cripes.

Theres plenty of help available for people with drug/alcohol problems. Its if the person is at a stage where they want to get help and are able to maintain a treatment programme.
If you or anyone elce wants to give money to help the homeless then donate to the leading charites for this in your area. Theres more chance that your money will be put to good use.
Giving money to people on the street just goes straight to the drug dealer.

tommix

keitht53 wrote: »

Homeless can certainly obtain benefits but the money often ends up being either poured down their throat or stuck in their arms! There have been suggestions that benefits could be made by way of food or accommodation vouchers but then the 'human rights' brigade start screaming!!!!!

If I was sleeping rough, last thing I'd want was a cuppa tea and a sausage sandwich! I'd go for the 40 proof comfort blanket and if I could'nt afford it, I'd bloody well nick it..Sod the food vouchers!:beer:

John_Clark

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Theres plenty of help available for people with drug/alcohol problems.

There is if you believe the leaflets put out by the civil service. They are very good at producing glossy leaflets telling us how much good they are doing. But the reality on the ground may be different....

dandelionclock30

John_Clark wrote: »

There is if you believe the leaflets put out by the civil service. They are very good at producing glossy leaflets telling us how much good they are doing. But the reality on the ground may be different....

No, I know for a fact from personal experience whats available and if you have a drug/alcohol problem you can get help. Most places you can get an appointment within a few days and treatment within a week or two.
If you dont believe me ring up or contact your local drug team and ask them how long it takes.
The problem is that many people are in the system for years on and off and they often dont keep appointments etc because of the lifestyle that they lead.Also drug/alcohol problems can be chronic and relapsing by their nature and are linked with mental health problems and behaviour problems etc.

belladonna13

Then there are those of us who are mentally ill. Who do not 'pour stuff down our throat or stick it in our arms'.

When I was homeless I did not claim benefits because I did not know who I was for quite some time. I was not allowed in the night shelter because I had acted peculiarly outside. So through that ban I could not access any hostels.

I never begged or stole. I lived on the few quid my pensioner mum could afford to give me. I could not stay with her because it was sheltered housing.

I spent large amounts of time laid under a dirty yellow blanket in the old ticket office of the station they were pulling down.

I was beat up and abused. I had to keep going to the local hospital for pain shots because of my disability.

A young police officer tried his hardest to help me and I was taken to the local hospital and held on a section until the duty Psychiatrist came. Always they would release me and the young police officer would shake his head in disbelief. I am not surprised I was madder than a box of frogs!

He had seen first-hand my behaviour when out and about. It was not normal. Yet he could not get me to a place of safety. So I stayed under my dirty yellow blanket for safety.

I could get a bed for a night in exchange for sex. Sometimes I did that. It was cold in the winter of 2004/05.

I ended up staying with an alcoholic who soon turned nasty. I got away and was then allowed in the night shelter. The ban had been lifted.

I spent 6 weeks there and then 6 months in a hostel and then 18 months in a womens hostel.

My benefits had been sorted at the night shelter. They meant little to me. I was so ill. I have bipolar 1. I have had it since 1995. No-one cared and I was laying in rivers and believing I was controlled by computers.

Don't anyone ever assume that those who are homeless are all addicts. Some are mentally ill. I met quite a few ex service men who had PTSD in the hostel. THey did not drink or do drugs they hurt and hurt bad.

Believe all the glossy pamphlets if it helps you sleep at night. But believe me there are many homeless who receive little or no help.

I even belonged to a GP surgery that specialised in drug addiction. Only I was not a addict. I could not get sleeping pills but I could buy them off the addicts outside who could get them whenever they wanted!

The police helped me more than anyone by holding me on short sections 136. Sometimes they would hold me overnight and I would be warm and given hot drinks and food and care.

To me the police are our front line social workers and with the cuts in MH services and the further loss of beds they will become more so!

Community Care never worked it was just a cost saving measure. Shut down 36,000 beds and only have room and provision in the community for 9,000 and so on.

We may be unheard. We are often unseen, but those of us with mental health issues are a part of the homeless. To me it appears we are the part that are forgotten.

I would have loved someone to have bought me a hot drink or a sausage roll but I did not beg. I could not work that one out!

I was once a professional and lived in a nice home and drove a nice car. Mental illness can happen to anyone!