Discretionary Housing Payment

MasterSamSam72

I’ve been turned down previously for DHP from local council on many occasions.

I live in a 2-bedroom flat on my own for almost 13 years. I’ve been covering the under occupancy tax since it came in. This is a Housing Association property.

Financially like many others I’m struggle with rising costs, I’m in receipt of ESA SG and PIP Enhanced Rates for both.

tacpot12

Do you understand why you have been turned down for a DHP? If not, I suggest that you get hold of your council's policy on DHPs and have a read. If you still don't understand, write to your local councillor and ask if they can help you, either to explain properly why you don't qualify, or to get through any particular block that the assessment process has about you or your property.  

MasterSamSam72

MasterSamSam72 said:

I’ve been turned down previously for DHP from local council on many occasions.

I live in a 2-bedroom flat on my own for almost 13 years. I’ve been covering the under occupancy tax since it came in. This is a Housing Association property.

Financially like many others I’m struggle with rising costs, I’m in receipt of ESA SG and PIP Enhanced Rates for both.

Ahhhh clicked post before I had finished!

I am going to apply for DHP again, things have changed since last application about 8 months ago. I’ve been juggling my finances and have had to purchase a second hand car as due to my disability I just was not going out anymore on public transport due to anxiety, and was driving a car as a named driver on another policy for 7 years, but I could not use this car for my benefit, and my life was literally non-existent. 

So now I have the added cost of car payments, insurance and service cover, petrol etc.

In terms of downsizing… Trust me I’ve tried and tried… I need a property with a shower only due to my physical disabilities and it’s impossible to find anywhere as our bidding system most properties I need are limited to the over 50s. I’ve had Medical Priority on the housing list for more than two years.

Its frustrating and distressing as I was turned down without a proper assessment for a DFG for my current property, this complaint is currently with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

I really need help to cover the bedroom tax, more so now with my car purchase and rising costs especially to heat this property. That extra £57 a month if cover by DHP would really help with heating costs.

I feel my PIP covers my car, cannot get a Motability car as PIP award to short, and then I have other medical expenses such as Podiatry - NHS Podiatry is absolute rubbish, and I also self fund Libre for my diabetes control which cost £100 per month.

peteuk

Do you really need Libre?  I realise its covenant but at £100 a month…

Why are you in the two bed flat? Did they not have a one bed or at the time did you need the two bedrooms?  When you moved in what did they tell you?

Cost of living payments?  You should have the PIP £150, Electricity £400, and i believe the cost of living £600+, along with the CT £150.  (Make sure you’ve recieved them but double check the £600 COL). If you haven’t then claim them.

Do you have a council tax reduction?

Is there anywhere else you can get help from?

I know its off topic, but until your dispute goes through (which might agree that your not entitled to it) then look at other help and assistance.

Good luck.

KxMx

I'm sorry to hear you have been turned down, my local council will strongly consider granting a DHP if the applicant is actively trying to downsize through the bidding system. 

As you've had medical priority on that system for 2 years, might it be worth asking them to review your application as you may be able to get more points if you can demonstrate a worsening of your situation. Then if somewhere were to come up you'd have a better chance. 
Or just contact the bidding team for a general chat to explain how things are currently and to see what advice they have. 

You could also investigate the possibility of moving to a one bed and then looking to get the bath converted to a shower. That was my own back up plan while I was bidding, which as things turned out I didn't need to enact.

Assuming you have a water meter, have you checked with water company that you are on the cheapest tariff for your usage & circumstances?
Sometimes standard tariff still works out cheapest but it's always worth checking.
I was told this a few months ago by my water company which was fair enough, but last month they changed terms of a LITE tariff and so moved me onto that, 25% less to pay now. 

MasterSamSam72

peteuk said:

Do you really need Libre?  I realise its covenant but at £100 a month…

Why are you in the two bed flat? Did they not have a one bed or at the time did you need the two bedrooms?  When you moved in what did they tell you?

Cost of living payments?  You should have the PIP £150, Electricity £400, and i believe the cost of living £600+, along with the CT £150.  (Make sure you’ve recieved them but double check the £600 COL). If you haven’t then claim them.

Do you have a council tax reduction?

Is there anywhere else you can get help from?

I know its off topic, but until your dispute goes through (which might agree that your not entitled to it) then look at other help and assistance.

Good luck.

I got the two bed prior to the introduction of the Bedroom Tax, and was a student about to start university, until a breakdown resulted in a change of circumstances. There were no rules around under occupying a 2-bed flat back then, as they were specifically built with a rule of no children under 10 and only parents with access to children over 10.

I’ve had the COL 1, and PIP, and the money for gas and electric, and the CT payment earlier in the year.

I get some help with CT, but pay £17 per month.

The Libre is not essential but I do feel being disability related my PIP pays for that. I’m a type 2 diabetic and about to re-start insulin, so Libre would be better, as I seriously struggle with monitoring blood glucose when I’m mentally unwell, which is most of the time.

I think my groceries are expensive, as whilst I batch bake and freeze, I avoid pre-packed foods and meals due to the sugar content, I try to stick to a fresh food diet, but do seek out yellow label items I can freeze.

I don’t have anyone else to help out, there is only my dad whose worse off financially than me.

The ombudsman issue was I tried to get the council who are responsible for the housing list to work with housing associations and see if they would consider someone younger, but they didn’t want to know, and my fairly new autism diagnosis was ignored when it finally came to light that my noise sensory issues living in my flat has caused multiple overdose’s over the years. Although it’s quieter in this flat now as I have respectable neighbours at last so could remain here, if they altered the bathroom for one more accessible. 

The OT assessment was flawed, so much so there is no OT report documented according to a recent SAR I made, apparently because I was dressed and clean I could clearly managed my personal hygiene, and didn’t need a shower…

The annoying thing is there are so many properties advertised I can’t bid on mostly one beds with accessible bathrooms but the housing association’s put age limits on them, so I can’t bid, and even when I enquire and explain my circumstances they are not interested. My own landlord / housing association have not put me on a management list for a move to a 1 bedroom ground floor flat with no communal entrance or 1 bed bungalow - both with showers, but I somehow doubt anything will materialise.

MasterSamSam72

tacpot12 said:

Do you understand why you have been turned down for a DHP? If not, I suggest that you get hold of your council's policy on DHPs and have a read. If you still don't understand, write to your local councillor and ask if they can help you, either to explain properly why you don't qualify, or to get through any particular block that the assessment process has about you or your property.  

Yes, initially when I first applied, I had to much excess income, so fair enough… and perhaps I was way to honest in terms of what I spent, and didn’t spend. However, now having bought a car, and paid insurance I obviously have more going out now.

I could apply again but expect they will consider a car a non-essential item, although doubt my GP would support that stance.

MasterSamSam72

KxMx said:

I'm sorry to hear you have been turned down, my local council will strongly consider granting a DHP if the applicant is actively trying to downsize through the bidding system. 

As you've had medical priority on that system for 2 years, might it be worth asking them to review your application as you may be able to get more points if you can demonstrate a worsening of your situation. Then if somewhere were to come up you'd have a better chance. 
Or just contact the bidding team for a general chat to explain how things are currently and to see what advice they have. 

You could also investigate the possibility of moving to a one bed and then looking to get the bath converted to a shower. That was my own back up plan while I was bidding, which as things turned out I didn't need to enact.

Assuming you have a water meter, have you checked with water company that you are on the cheapest tariff for your usage & circumstances?
Sometimes standard tariff still works out cheapest but it's always worth checking.
I was told this a few months ago by my water company which was fair enough, but last month they changed terms of a LITE tariff and so moved me onto that, 25% less to pay now. 

I’m active… Looking everyday but there is just nothing to bid on due to the age restrictions on most of the properties. All I need is a quiet one bedroom place with an accessible bathroom. I am not asking for much.

The reason my current housing / council complaint is with the ombudsman is because when I raised the fact I’d been diagnosed with autism they were unhelpful and more so when I tried to explain my worsening pain was making it difficult to access the shower over the bath. I do have handrails which were installed in 2019 which have helped, but now due to the increase in pain it’s a real struggle to climb into the bath.

I’ve finally got a referral to the pain clinic this month, been waiting six months, and I’ll try anything they suggest to alleviate this pain.

I am on a water meter, and I have consider taking a 1-bed if I can find one quiet enough and installing my own bathroom, although now buying a car on HP not sure financially if that would not be an option, again have considered putting one in here.

Its amazing how many 2-bed houses have been advertised with adapted bathrooms already, but again the housing won’t let me bid on 2-bids, and then I would have the issue of stairs.

My dads landlord is over 55s only and they have so many empty 1-bed flats across the town, mostly 1st floor but I find the stairs in them ok to climb, but they would rather they stand empty that offer one to someone who desperately needs to move.

The other thing I have not done is put myself on a swap list as I don’t really cope with people being near me and having people coming to look around. 

Earlier this year, my housing issues led to breakdown in my home (couple of things were going on at the same time) and I was sectioned, this is why my housing association finally put me on a management move list.