Could I be entitled to extra bedroom for carer?

FredTheShed

Hi,

Sorry if I've posted in the wrong bit, I wasn't sure where to put this. I currently live in a one bedroom flat as I'm a single person. I have mental health problems, am on medication and see a Psychiatrist and CPN from the CMHT. My mum helps me a lot and she stays overnight maybe 2-3 times a week, and she sleeps on the couch for superverison and to make sure I'm safe when relapsing.

I've been having a lot of problems with the property I'm in and we made a new housing Application recently. Does anyone know if I'd be entitled to apply for a 2 bedroom flat so that my mum could have her own room? Sometimes I'll swap with my mum and let her sleep in my room as I know how uncomfortable it is on the couch. We've been managing ok with the current arrangements but it would be better if she had her own room. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

Caz3121

Do you receive DLA care high or middle rate or PIP?

FredTheShed

High rate PIP for both daily living and mobility until 2024

calcotti

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_many_bedrooms_you_can_claim_benefits_for

Overnight carer

You qualify for an extra bedroom if anyone in your household receives overnight care on a regular basis from a non-resident carer and gets any of the following benefits:

PIP - daily living component
DLA - middle or high care component
attendance allowance - higher rate if you get HB; any rate if you get UC

As you get one of the qualifying benefits the question then turns on the interpretation of “on a regular basis”. There may not be a definitive answer to this. There was a tribunal decision that looked at it in 2014 http://administrativeappeals.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//judgmentfiles/j4255/CH%204319%202013-00.doc. I don’t know if there is any more recent guidance which would give an indication of how your situation would be treated.

FredTheShed

Thank you for your help