Getting on Housing Register as a Medical Priority

evouk

Hi,

I suffer from a long term phyical disability and my current housing situation is not sufficient so I applied to my local Council for access to the Housing Register as a Medical Priority. Despite sending medical evidence along with a very good letter from my GP, I was stunned to have my application rejected.

I dont know if anyone here is familiar with the process but basically the Government say local councils must allow those with a medical priority access to the register but the councils (at least mine) are very hostile to this and make it very difficult to get access. For example, when you apply for disabilty benefits such as ESA or PIP, there is a clear point scoring critera and an assessment but with the register, there is no such criteria. They make it intentionally vague and they get an anonymous 'Council Medical Advisor' to take their side without assessing you or even speaking to your GP. Its a very underhand system that I cant believe the Government allows them to get away with, but anyway, I am still fighting them as I believe they are in the wrong.


My question really is, does anyone know what sort of things they are looking for in regards to my current housing situation which would allow me access? I have asked them what the criteria is but of course they avoid telling you. They have agreed to send an Occupational Therapist to my home to assess my situation so what sort of things will they be looking for? I sent a detailed letter explaining how my current housing situation was affecting my disability and even how hazardous it was but they still didnt relent. So I need to understand what exactly they are looking for?

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Could your local councillor help?

Alice_Holt

Subject Access Request?

[Deleted User]

Get your MP involved.

WoodyMax

Hi, I didn't want to just scroll by - there will probably be others on here more knowledgeable than I.
However, firstly I would ask the council (in writing by letter or email) for a copy of their Policy for allowing access to the register. They should supply this but if not as Alice said above, go through the route via the Subject Access request (which they have to respond to).
With regard to the OT assessment, they will do an assessment and complete a report (again ask them for a copy of it) probably looking to see if you are eligible for a grant to make adaptations to your property to make it more suitable to live there. for example you are legally entitled to access to washing/showering/bathing facilities. They will want to make sure it is safe for you to access cooking facilities etc without for example the risk of falls etc. Much depends on the nature of your disability. However the OT assessment could certainly be an advantage in your attempt to be rehoused. Good luck with it all.

pickledonionspaceraider

complain complain complain

I help a young person who was got on to the housing register with a long term health condition. The council do need to understand how your medical condition is effected or made worse, by your current housing situation That seemed to be the crux of the situation.

Craig1981

OP, you say your current housing situation is not sufficient... could you elaborate?
are you currently in social or private rented?
how many bedroom do you have/how many do you need?

System

When we applied for social housing it was done by telephone i asked about being prioritized due to the reason we needed something more suitable , the woman on the phone wasn't very helpful but i insisted on an assessment .


A very lovely lady came out to see if there was anything they could help with so that we could stay where we were unfortunately she agreed there wasn't . We were then placed in the medical need group it took 18 months of applying before we got this place .

antrobus

WoodyMax wrote: »

......
With regard to the OT assessment, they will do an assessment and complete a report (again ask them for a copy of it) probably looking to see if you are eligible for a grant to make adaptations to your property to make it more suitable to live there. for example you are legally entitled to access to washing/showering/bathing facilities. They will want to make sure it is safe for you to access cooking facilities etc without for example the risk of falls etc.

Here is an explanatio of what OT does;
https://rcotss-ip.org.uk/what-is-occupational-therapy

WoodyMax wrote: »

......
Much depends on the nature of your disability. However the OT assessment could certainly be an advantage in your attempt to be rehoused. Good luck with it all.

We don't know the nature of the OP's long term physical disability or why they think their current housing situation is not sufficient. In my experience OT's focus is on supplying the kind of kit or recommending the kind of adaptations that will make your current housing situation 'sufficient'.