Council Housing asking for bank statements - BIG gambling transactions

anxious12343

Hi,

Over the last few months I've developed a gambling addiction, and spent most of benefits that doesn't go on food, rent, and bills on online gambling.

I'm currently applying to live in council housing, I currently live in a community for people with mental health problems and addictions.

My problem is that the council have asked for 3 months worth of bank statements including all transactions, which will show thousands of pounds to and from gambling websites. I'm guessing this will seriously affect my chances of being accepted, is there any way around it, or a chance that they won't care(?!), or should I reapply after 3 months of not gambling? The only issue with waiting 3 months is that the warden here will ask why and if I'm honest I'll not only be judged by the staff but kicked out.

Please try not to judge me.
 I've had serious drug and alcohol addictions in the past which I've managed to work through. I'm getting help for my gambling addiction and have signed up to GAMSTOP, which prevents you from online gambling.
I know it's disrespectful to be spending benefits on gambling, and I apologise for that.

carefullycautious

why don't you phone Gamblers anonymous and talk to them about this. I'm sure you are not the only one who has come up against this problem. Well done for managing your drug and alcohol addiction. Unfortunately with addiction you manage one and another pops up in its place so do continue to get help with this. 

anxious12343

carefullycautious said:

why don't you phone Gamblers anonymous and talk to them about this. I'm sure you are not the only one who has come up against this problem. Well done for managing your drug and alcohol addiction. Unfortunately with addiction you manage one and another pops up in its place do continue to get help with this.

Thanks for being so understanding and supportive about it, and that's a great idea and maybe they will have some suggestions. 

It's true about addiction, they never go away we just replace one addiction with another. 

AdrianC

anxious12343 said:

Over the last few months I've developed a gambling addiction, and spent most of benefits that doesn't go on food, rent, and bills on online gambling.

I'm currently applying to live in council housing, I currently live in a community for people with mental health problems and addictions.

My problem is that the council have asked for 3 months worth of bank statements including all transactions, which will show thousands of pounds to and from gambling websites. I'm guessing this will seriously affect my chances of being accepted, is there any way around it, or a chance that they won't care(?!), or should I reapply after 3 months of not gambling? The only issue with waiting 3 months is that the warden here will ask why and if I'm honest I'll not only be judged by the staff but kicked out.

Or perhaps it'll show why you qualify for that sheltered community?

Good luck with conquering your addiction problems.

strawb_shortcake

Do you have a support worker that knows of the gambling and the steps you've taken to stop? If you have, can they provide some supporting evidence to help your application?

hb2

I assume the council know that you are currently living somewhere especially for people with addictions and mental health issues? If they do, your gambling is not likely to be a huge surprise for them.

Mrsn

hb2 said:

I assume the council know that you are currently living somewhere especially for people with addictions and mental health issues? If they do, your gambling is not likely to be a huge surprise for them.

^^^^ This.

I would also echo the advice to ring gamblers anonymous and see if they are able to give an advice or support. Keep going, it can’t be easy but you are doing well.

NameUnavailable

Maybe not waiting 3 months but having at least a month of no gambling payments to show that you're really trying to get off the habit and in conjunction with the other advice you're getting. I would hope that the relevant people would take that all into account given your current home.

anxious12343

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the advice and kind replies. I am posting to potentially help others in the same situation. 

I got honest with the council and they told me that they would reject my application when I submitted my bank statements, and if they do that it's 6 months before you can apply again.

So what I did is joined GAMSTOP and then installed betblocker. It was hard taking that first step and I kept thinking "just one more go" but I took the plunge. At first I was trying to access gambling sites and telling myself "I'll apply for housing a month later than I planned". But I wasn't able to access any and soon enough the cravings to gamble went away completely. After 3 months of not gambling I was able to submit my very clean bank statements (they only need 3 months' worth) and was accepted onto the housing register with no issues.

Gambling addiction is really hard. I know there are support groups available. The best advice I can give you is just DO IT. Join Gamstop, install betblocker, no "one more go", no "I'll do it tomorrow/next week/when I'm ready". Ignore the justifications you tell yourself: they're irrational, your brain just wants you to gamble.

Your mental health and wallet will be eternally grateful and you will not regret it.

HampshireH

anxious12343 said:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the advice and kind replies. I am posting to potentially help others in the same situation. 

I got honest with the council and they told me that they would reject my application when I submitted my bank statements, and if they do that it's 6 months before you can apply again.

So what I did is joined GAMSTOP and then installed betblocker. It was hard taking that first step and I kept thinking "just one more go" but I took the plunge. At first I was trying to access gambling sites and telling myself "I'll apply for housing a month later than I planned". But I wasn't able to access any and soon enough the cravings to gamble went away completely. After 3 months of not gambling I was able to submit my very clean bank statements (they only need 3 months' worth) and was accepted onto the housing register with no issues.

Gambling addiction is really hard. I know there are support groups available. The best advice I can give you is just DO IT. Join Gamstop, install betblocker, no "one more go", no "I'll do it tomorrow/next week/when I'm ready". Ignore the justifications you tell yourself: they're irrational, your brain just wants you to gamble.

Your mental health and wallet will be eternally grateful and you will not regret it.

Well done! Massive achievement 👍

theartfullodger

With councils having gambled themselves with massive "investments" (bets) on commercial properties - which they had no business going after - your history is very very minor.  Some councils are now many millions down - and guess who will pay (taxpayers..)

Good luck, hope it works out!