Moving out and Disabled?

[Liv]

I am 20 and currently get DLA (higher rate mobility, middle rate care) and am in the support group for employment and support allowance. I have a physical medical condition that means I cannot work due to pain and fatigue. I live with my parents but would like to move out and become more independent eventually, I just don't know where to start. Would I be able to claim housing benefit? The money I have at the moment is not enough to live on and most landlords don't accept people on benefits. Any advice would be great! thanks.

[Jan409]

You have to find a landlord who will accept you if you are on benefits
Also if you are disabled, how will you manage

UK

[Jackie]

Have you tried to apply for social housing which can be adapted for your needs? In Leeds, we have something called Leeds Homes who send you a form you fill in so you can register and includes details of your health needs, then a medical assesor will visit you and decide which priority catagory you fit into and what kind of housing would match your needs best. Eventually a housing OT visited me who looked again at my needs and helped me find somewhere suitable and get it adapted. Beware, there is a wait which varies depending on waiting lists for your area and your perceived level of need. I waited 18 months for my flat but know of others who waited years. Your local council website should have information on applying for housing locally.

If you rent privately and are under 25, you will only be able to apply for Local Housing Allowance which is at the level of renting a room in a shared house. This may have changed, but you should be able to find out for sure on your council website.

Also, do you have a social worker? They would be able to give you advice, if they are good, and help you work out what kind of support you will need to help you live independently... and help you apply for payments which go to you to help you buy support you need. This could be help with cleaning, laundry, shopping, help getting out and about and the like.

If you have an OT they can help you source any equipment you may need to help you live independently.

If you do find somewhere and apply for housing benefit, beware of the wait for a decision to be made and money to come through, but you may well already know that as you already have some benefits.

If I think of anything else useful I will post again.

[Autumn]

Please read carefully for some good news:

as you are in receipt of the middle rate of the care component of DLA you are automatically exempt from having to live in a shared house. you are entitled to housing benefit, and council tax benefit, for a one bedroomed house or flat [if you are ages 18+].

you are also entitled to premiums on your ESA you simply cannot get when living with adult family members. you will definitely be entitled to the severe disability premium which is an extra £59.50 per week, £238 every 4 weeks or £3102.50 per year.

if you want to claim housing benefit [and council tax benefit] first have a look on your local councils's website to find the local housing allowance for a one bed property. this is the maximum rent they will pay towards your rent. you will then know the price range you can aim for; it is up to you to calculate if you can or want to contribute towards a more expensive property.

social housing is a fantastic option when it comes to renting property. your landlord [the housing association or local council] will have strict time limits on repairs and improvements to your property. i phoned my local council and asked to go on the housing list. points are essential as the more you have the higher up the list you go. get help from a medical specialist, social worker or your GP to back up your claim. i had 5-6 supporting letters to back up my claim.

i was awarded a new build bungalow by a housing association as i am a wheelchair user. it did take 18 months to be rehoused though as there were no suitable properties in my town. the tenants were chosen before the properties were built. social housing rent is lower than market rents so if you are able to work at some point or you decide to live with someone the rent should still be affordable.

where i live priority is given to people in the "Emergency Band" - people who are homeless, homeless in the near future, at risk of domestic violence or intimidation, pregnant etc. Next is the Gold band where i was placed, followed by the Silver band and the Bronze band where there is little hope of getting a property. claims are sorted out quickly if you go into the council offices in person with all the paperwork necessary and an original rental contract. if you forget anything they will give you a list of required documents and you can mail them in. they start processing the claim even if some documents are yet to arrive.

when you're on the housing list, every week you must go to the housing website and click on a button to find a list of properties you are eligible to bid on. you can bid on all of them if you want to. the person highest up the list gets first pick on the property but if they reject it the next can yay or nay and the next person could be you.

if you rent privately you won't move on the housing list unless the property is temporary and unsuitable for your needs. you would need to explain this to the housing team. if you find a property to rent you don't have to tell your landlord you are on benefits and will be claiming housing benefit. the council won't tell him either. you will need a deposit/bond which is as little as £100 or can be 2 months rent. if you go through an agent they have fees and also charge you for a credit check. you also need the first month's rent up front. housing benefit is paid 4 weeks in arrears.

the council housing benefit department do hold a list of landlords who will accept a guarantee from the council instead of a deposit/bond and will wait for the rent to be paid in arrears. i don't know the quality of these properties though. social housing can take a while but you get well looked after and the rent is paid direct so you don't even have to think about it.

where ever you are living you can call social services adult help desk and ask for an occupational therapist's assessment. this is an assessment in your home to see what aids and adaptations you need. for major work, such as building a ground floor extension or putting in a wet room or a wheelchair ramp, a Disabled Facilities Grant needs to be applied for and someone from the financial department visits to assess your finances. for equipment such as a hospital style bed or bath lift, these type of items are on a long term loan.

ESA personal allowance £71.70
enhanced disability premium £15.15
support component £34.80
severe disability premium £59.50 THIS PREMIUM IS ONLY AWARDED WHEN YOU LEAVE HOME

TOTAL = £181.15 (WHICH IS WHAT I GET). with your DLA added on, which is . + £108.25 per week, which means you have a tax free weekly income of £289.40, how can you struggle to live on this amount of money? your rent and council tax will be paid, you'll have/get a free bus pass and reduced travel costs elsewhere and reductions everywhere from the cinema to swimming to theme parks; oh and free prescriptions.

if you are severely disabled and need help to wash and dress yourself and to cook meals and clean your home; you may be entitled to direct payments from social services. the money allows you to employ your own help rather than having a stranger come into your home. it is a postcode lottery and even though i am severely disabled and on the whole cannot wash, dress or cook but i can fall down, even out of my wheelchair, i am not awarded any direct payments. in some areas you need to have slight health problems and you get help with everything. if you want to have a go simply call the social services adult help desk and ask to spek to a social worker regarding a direct payments assessment.

best of luck with the exciting changes coming up in your life.
best wishes, A x