To ask for some advice? Wits end

[MrChow]

Hello

I'm desperate. It's a long story but I'll cut it short but try not to drop feed.

My mum lives alone in rented accommodation following my fathers death 2.5 years ago. They didn't have much money but what was there has all been spent on rent and living costs.

Mums health has declined in itself since dad died, chronic back pain caused by slipped discs and arthritis and depression that came with him dying and also the lack of independence she now has from the condition and also the fact that She has approx £80 per month to live on before buying food or doing anything. She gets ESA and housing benefit now she has no savings.
Her food bill is split between us 3 siblings. If we didn't buy her food she wouldn't eat, she's not even 7 storm in weight as it is

So 6 months ago we applied for her to go into affordable accommodation preferably ground floor because she finds the stairs hard some days, more so at present but also her rent could be a good £150 cheaper. Her GP supported this ans since we've been able to apply for suitable properties but so far not much luck, until a few weeks ago a little bungalow became available 6 doors up from my gran (her mum) and on the same estate her sister lives. It's a village location but she's been excited at the prospect as its the village we grew up in and would be perfect in so many ways, my children go to that school so we'd be able to see her often and she's able to get help from my aunt should she become immobile or in considerable pain.

So we've waited weeks and then we're told she's being considered please send relevant paperwork. I did all this and yesterday was told she's not being considered now because she doesn't have adequate funds and may not afford the rent. This is despite them seeing she receives HB on her current property. Because the bungalow is 2 bedroom she's not eligible for full HB due to bedroom tax, so would contribute £65 per month.

I'm helping out all I can, and have asked how I can appeal about this decision because we are in a Desperate situation as some nights she stays here as finds her stairs are too painful (we have downstairs toilet and shower) and I am worried for her emotional state.

So I'm going to pen a letter of appeal but I'm kindly asking does anyone know how I can strengthen this? I'm happy to go as guarantor as are my siblings or even have the DD coming from my own acc so they can be reassured the rent will be paid. I just feel desperately sad and have been tearful the last few days, I haven't even told her yet. She's worked right up until my dad died and is a shadow of her former self and I know she secretly had her hopes built on this bungalow due to being close to her mum
And sister and becoming more independent again.

If anyone can help me pen this letter I'd be so grateful

[ovaryhill]

Why don't you go to your local CAB
they can do a benefit check for you mum to make sure she is getting everything she is entitled to and they can also help with writing a letter

[Unescorted]

HB is paid direct to the tenant, not the landlord so the affordability is an issue. However she can elect to have the HB paid direct to the LL and this may make a diffeerence.

Also check that the rent is less than the Local Housing Allowance here. With Affordable Rent (up to 80% of market rent) it is now possible for a property to be let at above LHA rates and therefore even if the house isn't under occupied HB won't cover the rent.

The difference between a 1 bed and a 2 bed will easily eat up the ?80 she has "spare" in her budget.

[PegsPigs]

If this house improves her quality of life and you and your siblings can afford to support her then yes the DD from your account sounds like a good idea. CAB should also be able to give you some advice.

[MsJamieFraser]

HB is not paid directly to the tenant, universal credit currently only applies to new claimants who are single people under the age of 25.

OP you can appeal but this flat has already been allocated for someone else, the flat maybe perfect for your mum, however your mum does not fit the criteria of the property. The council are right to not give your mum thi house because her personal financial circumstances are what is considered not that family will pay the bills.

Also they have a duty of care, and with that your mum need one bedroom accommodation.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Who is her local Councillor? this is the sort of thing they should be able to help with, get onto them.

[Cloppysow]

I'd say the fact that it's 2 bedrooms is what puts her down the list. There will be hundreds of people who actually need 2 bedrooms.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Hb is generally paid to the tenant, but you CAN get it paid directly to the landlord. I do. It's much less hassle.

If you can contact the landlord, then have a chat with them. Explain that you and your siblings will do everything to help out.

Is there a possibility your mum and her mum could apply together, as its a 2 bed?

CAB will offer better advice.

[MrChow]

Thanks for your replies, they are useful.

She was 4th on the list initially for this property and minimum age for these bungalows is 60 so I'm thinking she's perhaps got to no 1 in que due to fact it's a very small village no shop, and it might put some older couples off. The only properties available 1 bed are flats but wouldn't be any good to her as they are not ground floor.

[Francoitalialan]

We had a similar situation with my Dad - but the bungalow was a private let. I contacted the landlord and said I'd be the guarantor and that we were more than able to cover the rent, along with a string character reference for my dad from his GP. It worked, thank god.

[Birdsgottafly]

I'd also go the route of your Mum needing an extra bedroom for support, which has validity.

Cloppy, some areas aren't over subscribed for certain types of housing.

The HA bungalows by me, we're all sold off because they built only two and three bedroom properties, which then they couldn't allow single occupancy in, because of the Bedroom Tax.

It's forward planning, in a lot of cases, because health tends to worsen and it allows Carers to stay, rather than a hospital/Hospice stay.

[Purplepoodle]

can you show she can afford the rent with her current income?

[Francoitalialan]

If you're a guarantor then her income doesn't matter. Yours does.

[nameinlights]

It sounds like you might have been advised wrongly about the bedroom tax. From your posts it sounds like your mother is pension age. Bedroom tax does not apply to pensioners. Find out if she is within the correct definition of pension age here: england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/bedroom_tax_checker
That means that if you are a pensioner, this means you can get housing benefits for bedrooms that you are not using.

You could also ask for an OT assessment at your local council, this will provide more evidence about her need for appropriate accommodation. In some areas waiting lists for these assessments are very long though.a

[tedhis]

Could both her and her mother share this 2 bedroom- that may well give them both more disposable income?