[milliemoo]

Hi all 

I'm the mum of a little girl with profound learning difficulties and severe epilepsy. 

Just wanted to know if any parents have been in my situation and have any guidance regarding housing issues.

I own my house with my ex and therefore on certain housing benefits for a lone parent, however, as my daughter gets older my house is becoming ever so more inpractical, as she doesn't walk and probably will not in the future.

Social Services OT have assessed the house to be unadaptable, therefore there is no choice but to move, hopefully to a bungalow.

I know that i would be entiltled to the disablity facility grant to adapt our new home, but i'm not in a position to increase my mortgage to purchase a more expensive bungalow to satisfy our needs.

I would be extremely grateful if anyone could signpost me to any further details regarding this mater.

Many thanks

[johnvb]

Hi! Welcome to Special Families.

This is only a quick reply before I start work for the day, but do you already claim disability living allowance, carer's allowance and the disability component of working tax credit? If not then these can add up to a reasonable amount that would definitely help.

One thing I only found out recently is that if your house is larger specifically because of the requirements of a disabled person you are entitled to pay council tax at 1 band below the normal band. It's only a little but everything helps.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any allowance or benefit specifically to help with increased mortgage costs, though hopefully someone else reading this might have some ideas?

Good luck,

John

[milliemoo]

HI John,

Thanks for quick reply.

Yes i claim all the below benefits and as i'm a lone parent Income Support pay the interest on my mortgage, but they won't give me an idea of how much more they're willing to pay if i move due to my disabled daughter, they've told me i have to get the mortgage and then applyh for them to help me pay it. Umm.

Many thanks
Lisa

Hi! Welcome to Special Families.

This is only a quick reply before I start work for the day, but do you already claim disability living allowance, carer's allowance and the disability component of working tax credit? If not then these can add up to a reasonable amount that would definitely help.

One thing I only found out recently is that if your house is larger specifically because of the requirements of a disabled person you are entitled to pay council tax at 1 band below the normal band. It's only a little but everything helps.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any allowance or benefit specifically to help with increased mortgage costs, though hopefully someone else reading this might have some ideas?

Good luck,

John

[pixie]

HI John,

Thanks for quick reply.

Yes i claim all the below benefits and as i'm a lone parent Income Support pay the interest on my mortgage, but they won't give me an idea of how much more they're willing to pay if i move due to my disabled daughter, they've told me i have to get the mortgage and then applyh for them to help me pay it. Umm.

Many thanks
Lisa

Hi Lisa and welcome to this forum.

Income support won't tell you how much they will allow but I think there is a maximum they will pay for. If you look at the disability alliance website
 
http://www.disabilityalliance.org/

that should give you all the info you need.

I am surprised that your present home cannot be adapted as most homes can be.

Maybe they don't have the funds to put adaptions in place, or they are generally trying not to help with adaptions. It makes life easier for them if you deal with it by moving.

I know that a very synical way of looking at it but I really don't see why you should have to move rather than have your present home adapted.

Did they have specific reasons for saying your home couldn't be adapted as they should give you all that information in writing?

What adaptions were you asking for as maybe they deemed them not to be essential?

As I say all this information should be given to you in writing.
Take a look at the link above as it covers just about every eventuality.

I hope that's some help.

[welshie]

i would look into why your own home can't be adapted,we co own our property with in laws and ahve had adaptions ont the property i'e wider doors wheelchair access downstairs wet room stairlift all of which was done via a grant.
Have another look into it
all the best RAchel x

[Speeds]

Hi

This is very difficult but do stick to your guns with the council.  Be critical to your own home and look at the possibility for adaptation.  Make a list of pros and cons.  Think about this being perhaps a forever home because once adapted it may be more difficult to move if the council or whoever has already adapted one home.

Writing is very difficult because I don't want to sound negative but we were in this situation 14 years ago when my husband was spinally injured.  We looked at how we could adapt our home but decided that in the long term moving was best.  The council were supportive although we did have to fight for things.

Have you tried to find a house/bungalow/flat already converted?  I am not sure where you are located but organisations such as the Spinal Injuries Association have advertisments where people are selling their adapted homes.


Other things to think about - schools and other facilities for your child - where are the ones you want to use. 

Last of all find out exactly why they feel the house is unadaptable.  If it is just cost then that is wrong but if they are looking at the fact that it will not provide suitable accommodation for you and your child then they may be right.

Good luck

[Speeds]

Any news Millie Moo - how are you getting on?  I am very interested in this as it is so dependent on concils and many other things. 

Good luck and don't forget we are here to chat and help if we can.