Urgent Housing Advice

MoneyAdvice

I am currently in receipt of JSA, DLA (lower rate on mobility & care) & Housing benefit, although my DLA is coming to an end and I have applied for PIP. I currently rent privetely from an estate agents, and due to only reviving the shared room rate, there is a short fall in my rent which I have been using part of my DLA to pay for - no other option otherwise I would be homeless.

My problem is as my DLA is coming to an end and there is no guarantee that I'll be awarded PIP, what are my housing options? I have physical and learning disabilities but I seem to be lowest priority on social housing. I fear that when my DLA has come to an end, I will become homeless because there is no way I will be able to afford the shortfall in rent.

Other housing options are non-existent because the housing benefit I receive doesn't even cover a shared housing.

It's also more difficult for me to find employment at the moment due to the nature of my disabilities.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

marksoton

One for the benefits sub forum.

pmlindyloo

I see from your previous posts that you are renting a two bedroomed house.

What is your current situation as regards being able to move to a one bedroomed or a shared house? Are you in a fixed tenancy agreement or on a periodic tenancy?

If you are awarded the standard daily living rate of PIP then you would be eligible for the one bedroomed local housing allowance rate. Also since you are living alone and no one claims carer's allowance for you then you would also be eligible for the severe disability premium on your JSA. (This is an extra £60 ish a week)

So, much depends on whether your application for PIP is successful.

If you can wait until you know about your PIP award then you may just manage to stay in your current property.

However, if you are concerned about not being awarded PIP then you need to consider moving to a cheaper place - either a house share /studio.

If this is impossible (for example because you are tied into a contract) and you lose your DLA then you could try and apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (available from the council)

Have you considered getting a lodger? (boarder - where you provide the ingredients for breakfast).

I would need to check how the income would affect your JSA. I think they take off £20 and then half of the remainder of any rent that the boarder pays . Of course, your bills would rise so this option has to be considered carefully.

Bogof_Babe

Why would the OP be entitled to severe disability premiums when he states he is only on Lower Rate DLA for both mobility and care?

MoneyAdvice

I do get a disability premium on JSA, but don't know if it's a severe disability one though.

pmlindyloo

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Why would the OP be entitled to severe disability premiums when he states he is only on Lower Rate DLA for both mobility and care?

Sorry for not making it clear. I was referring to the situation if the OP was awarded standard daily living of PIP.

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately, its a bit late now but I'd advise getting some help with filling in DLA/PIP forms. I suspect the low rate DLA you received could have been increased. I have two sons, one now 20 and one 10. I applied myself for my older son when he was 12 or so.., took 9 months and one appeal to get an award.., and he has reasonably severe Aspergers etc requiring a lot of support (was practically sleepless at the time). I must admit, I was overly emotional and very tired so wrote pages of gumpf that probably got in the way of an award rather than helped.

When my younger son was diagnosed with ASD, I had some help from an autistic charity filling in his DLA form, and they knew the right words to use in the answers. He was awarded higher rate care, low rate mobility and I received the answer within two weeks lol. No appeal necessary.

If you do have any problems with getting PIP, go to a charity that helps with the conditions you have or your local CAB and appeal. The right words can make all the difference.

Meanwhile see if you can get some support from the local vulnerable persons team (phone your civic centre to see if there is one in your area) who will be able to advise better on what further help you can get.

I hope you have some doctors letters to support your case, it always helps. Discretionary Housing Allowance is always good too.

However, if you only receive a single persons shared housing/room HLA, maybe you need to consider moving to at most a one bed place. If you need the extra room for a support worker, you definitely need to look again at your PIP application.