Social housing questions please help?

brainyblonde76

Hi there I am an individual person looking into moving into social housing and getting my name on the list as where I am living the rent is about £100 over what my housing benefit is but that’s the cheapest place I could find in my area. I’m 43 but I have several disabilities including a registered severely sight impaired certificate, i’ve had a stroke, i’ve got breast cancer, i’ve had two corneal transplant’s, pancreatitis which was genetic and a condition called cyclical vomiting syndrome.

I had heard that some single people can get a two bedroom flat in social housing if they need the occasional overnight help which I do because I’m on almost 30 medications a day and also have a feeding tube. is this true? Also does social housing cost more than a persons housing benefit like do we still have to pay top ups and does the money go directly to the social housing people or do we pay it ourselves? I’m also wondering what are the chances I would get on the priority list with my different conditions because where I live now I live up a flight of stairs but as my vision is diminishing I find it a bit hard to maneuver sometimes especially when I need to take my small dog out to go potty. The place I’m living in now is a private rent but like I said it’s really not very affordable for me I could use that extra money for things like food or travel to the mainland for my medical appointments. Any help or suggestions you would have on this or information would be greatly appreciated

[Deleted User]

 As a single person in suitable housing affordability ignored. You would be bottom of the list for housing. Health needs only give you more priority when it affects your housing need ie needing a lift due to inability to walk, needing wide doors or walk in shower due to disability. 

 You can get housing benefit for two rooms if you have someone who stays over. You must give details of said person. That doesn't mean social landlords will give you two bedrooms. You will be assessed as needing one bedroom unless you have a live in carer. 

brainyblonde76

 I am on HB now with a private landlord but can’t afford the top up amount and there’s nothing cheaper where I live. I have had medical issues one example I tripped and fell going downstairs and the steps outside are dark so I tripped going up those stairs. I can see very little bit but I’m only functioning on one eye that partially works and no peripheral vision so please excuse any typos on here but I speak to my phone and it types for me. Also I have a bit of weakness left behind from my stroke plus with the breast cancer treatment sometimes I’m just too tired to try and get into my own flat because it’s upstairs

brainyblonde76

I also see district nurse is at least one week a month because they have me on something called a driver for medication which is similar to an IV but just goes into the tissue And I have asthma for which I am on a nebulizer for and steroids because I get winded going up and down the stairs which has been tested by the doctors

pmlindyloo

At the moment......…. do you have two bedrooms or one bedroom?  Do you receive DLA middle/high rate care or PIP daily living standard/enhanced?  Does someone care for you regularly?
In privately rented accommodation you would eligible for the two bed rate of housing allowance if you had a regular overnight carer and you were receiving one of the above benefits.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_many_bedrooms_you_can_claim_benefits_for
You can certainly go on the housing list and you may be considered for housing because of your medical needs.
However, with the lack of social housing you may be better off looking at two bed private accommodation if you have a regular carer and be awarded the two bed local housing allowance.

t0rt0ise

Nobody here will know what your council will do. You need to go and ask them. Councils vary in how they prioritise applicants and also in housing availability. All you can do is go and ask or call them and ask for an application form. 

brainyblonde76

Hey tOrtOise I can ask this question anywhere I like thank you very much one never knows they may come across a person who has had the same experience in this area so no question asked is dumb. pmlindyloo I have a friend that comes in and stays overnight about four times a week to help me out with my medication etc. but they do stay about four nights a week as they also help with my feeding tube

Slithery

brainyblonde76 said:

Hey tOrtOise I can ask this question anywhere I like thank you very much one never knows they may come across a person who has had the same experience in this area

But all councils are different - and you haven't told us which area you are living in...

[Deleted User]

I think you will have to go to the housing office of the borough you live in.  Yes there is a chance someone who reads this board lives in the same area, but even smaller chance they will be in the same circumstances and have the same needs, and there fore the experience you require.  As has been pointed out, you don't mention the area. It is very true that Housing Policies really can vary from one area to another as council's can set them individually.

Generally speaking though, you will need to prove to a council that you have lived in their borough for whatever period of time they require before they will consider your application, then you will have to be able to demonstrate a need for housing that is presently unfulfilled.  One useful thing would be to ask to be referred for an OT visit (with reference to the steps).  Your local borough will often have their housing policy on the internet, and you can look at that and see if you will qualify to go on the register.  

Normally social rents are a lot less than private rents, I've yet to hear of council housing charging more than the LHA, which makes sense.