LA Housing List/Housing Association for cancer patient

[clairefrasier]

FIL is currently living in private rental with stairs. He has struggled for years to pay rent as it's much more than his housing benefit and he only gets basic state pension. He therefore, can't afford meals on wheels and struggles to pay bills/food. He's in his 70's. He has applied to get on LA/Housing association list. We were hoping for some sort of retirement flat - sheltered housing. He's had some health problems including arthritis and gastro problems which has been included on his application.
Since applying he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He does not have a terminal diagnosis yet. They need to do more tests to find out what type of pancreatic cancer it is.
Someone from Housing is coming round to assess him soon. I think that he should disclose his cancer diagnosis to the Housing people as I think he will get higher priority due to his cancer diagnosis.
FIL and his FIL's brother have said not to disclose this as Housing will just write him off, thinking he will die soon, so the Housing people will think there is no point in putting him on the waiting list !
AIBU to think that this is not the case and that :-

1. he may get higher priority if he discloses his cancer diagnosis
2. that they won't refuse to put him on the list just because he has a cancer diagnosis ?

They definitely can’t not put him on council waiting list due to cancer diagnosis.

You need to look at the allocation criteria to see if it would increase priority. My guess would be any specific illness won’t make a difference. It will depend on whether he therefore has extra needs - is it even harder to climb the stairs or likely to if he is starting treatment?

The early stages of cancer diagnoses, when there are still tests to be done, are really demanding. for you and FIL.

How long will it take to get the test results back? I hope that it has been caught early.

They should still put him on the lists. But that it of course only the starting point, He might get medical priority, but only if his current housing is exacerbating his health conditions. Even with it, it can take months/years. Have you tried looking for a more suitable private rental for him?

The bidding numbers on Sheltered Retirement Housing seem to be very low so we are hoping we can do something like that. We don't really want to go for another private rental, as his current private landlord is good and unlikely to evict him (been there for several years already).....well unlikely to evict him until he can no longer care for himself and the house.

Thanks farah and medical

In some areas, sheltered housing is quite easy to come by so he should be ok on medical issues even without the cancer diagnosis. Just be aware that some social landlords might do a suitability assessment to see if he can manage a tenancy on his own. Some people mistakenly think that sheltered housing comes with a level of care included but it doesn't. You will get an emergency pull cord and a warden on site during the daytime for some time during the week. If you are not considered to be capable of independent living in your flat then they may not think you would be suitable and may signpost you to care or extra care homes instead.

sluj
some social landlords might do a suitability assessment to see if he can manage a tenancy on his own

He is capable of independent living at the moment, but the social landlords may think that he won't be in the near future if he has a cancer diagnosis ?
in that case it may be better to omit the diagnosis for now ? I don't even know if we are allowed to omit the diagnosis ?

bump

I would be upfront about everything because you really need this to be an appropriate move for him. Good luck

Putting the housing issues aside , does he get pension credit, I'm asking as you only mention state retirement pension. if he's getting housing benefit he may well be getting pension credit already but worth a check. It can be backdated. Also if he is struggling to look after himself he should put in a claim for if he is not already getting a disability benefit. he can do this if he has had care needs for 6 month but even if he hasn't it is worth putting in a claim. If his prognosis turns out to be poor ( as it often is with pancreatic cancer) then he would automatically be awarded the highest rates of Attendance allowance. receiving AA would increase any pension credit and housing benefit. if he can increase the income he has coming in it will increase his housing choices. Depending on diagnosis, his consultant or Nurse specialist may be able to write him a supporting letter supporting his need for more suitable accommodation.

Sorry that should say he should put in a claim for Attendance allowance.

MacMillan can be really useful for cancer related inancial and benefits advice and assistance through the various systems.

Is there a Macmillan centre at his hospital? Or some other local Cancer Support Centre?

In cases like this the Attendance allowance is automatically fast tracked if prognosis is poor

Some of the cancer charities may be of help here. I think that there is one specifically for pancreatic cancer

I work in local authority housing, do disclose that way he will be assessed for suitable accommodation e.g level access shower, equipment etc. Not only for now but the future

Thanks to you all. This is very helpful.

It looks like the general consensus is to disclose his cancer diagnosis.

I believe he has pension credits yes.
I will look into DLA and attendance allowance.

Will also speak to Macmillan’s and other charities, thanks.

And thanks fluffy. Was hoping to get opinion of someone who works on Housing.