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Housing help for my mentally unwell brother

9 replies

TheAirbender · 25/09/2020 10:10

Hi all

I live overseas so a bit out of touch with how things work in the UK in terms of housing benefit etc.

Current situation for my brother is:

he suffered a traumatic brain injury at work in December
he has had very little support/care due to Covid (has a referral to a brain injury clinic but they are not taking on new patients)
ongoing and stressful legal battle re the injury
very depressed and anxious, forgetful, has developed a severe stammer
had one episode of psychosis in March, for which he was hospitalised for around 2 weeks
currently undergoing a second debilitating episode which is causing great distress, under the care of crisis team etc

So that's the background. He has been living in a houseshare for around 2 years. At the start of lockdown his flatmate went back to his family overseas, so my brother has been alone all through this (not really helped but he has nice neighbours, friends nearby etc).

Flatmate moves out permanently today. Landlady saying she wants to move in with my brother. This is not ideal at all as she also has severe mental health issues and he also thinks that she has implied she wants him to go. This is causing him severe stress and worry. He keeps saying he doesn't feel safe or secure in his home.

My brother has been in receipt of housing benefit since the accident. He doesn't seem clear on how much it is (gets muddled on numbers and find dealing with officialdom very stressful).

I'd love some ideas on how to help him but have no idea where to start having lived overseas for so long. I guess my dream would be a housing association flat but I am sure they are incredibly rare.

Where should I start? Any pointers gratefully received!

OP posts:
TheAirbender · 29/09/2020 13:44

Bump. Could really use some advice on this!

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 29/09/2020 13:46

There is a brain injury charity in the UK called Headway which may be able to point you in the right direction or give you some idea of who to contact - hope you can sort something out OP.

Queenofthebrae · 29/09/2020 13:54

I agree that approaching Headway is a good start. Has he got a personal injury solicitor employed for him? Could they help with advice, perhaps helping him to appoint a case manager?

ChaChaCha2012 · 29/09/2020 13:55

I'd recommend Headway too.

www.headway.org.uk/supporting-you/

I wonder if supported housing/ semi independent living might be appropriate for him? Headway have advisers all over the country, so hopefully will know what is available in his area.

Also the mental health team should be able to put you in touch with a social worker.

Graphista · 29/09/2020 13:55

Where in Uk is he? If he's in England mind may be able to help and support him.

Shelter could also be useful in this situation.

Does he have a social worker? It sounds like he needs an assigned advocate to support him.

Maybe adult social care at his council should be contacted to provide support for him, they would also be able to connect him to what is called where I am the welfare rights office which is a department in the council that helps and supports people with applying for/claiming benefits they're eligible for, they'll be able to assess what he's currently receiving and know if he's getting all he should.

Is he only receiving housing benefits or is he also getting ESA and pip? Sounds like he should be or the UC equivalent depending on how it is working where he is.

Sorry I can't be of more help

TheAirbender · 29/09/2020 16:17

Thanks everyone. I’m going to go through this in more detail later. He is in touch with Headway and has a solicitor acting re the case/injury. Headway seem to have pushed him back a little given Covid. I’ll try and call them tomorrow.

OP posts:
thebiggestmoose · 29/09/2020 20:28

I would definitely encourage him to apply for pip if he's not already getting it, and to get support with filling in the form

thebiggestmoose · 29/09/2020 20:31

Also, is he still receiving support from the community mental health team? If not that would be worth looking into. And to look into whether the support he's getting is enough, if he is seeing them

TheAirbender · 01/10/2020 14:05

I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice, it's brilliant.

He has been referred to a daycare centre by his community team and he has said that he will ask there about housing advice. I find it's a fine line to tread between making him feel suppoted and being overbearing (I have form for this!) so I will follow his lead. I have talked to him about PIP before but he's heard so many horror stories about the process he is reluctant to apply. It's hard to push him on that point when he is already fragile.

Thank you everyone, I'll return to this thread soon.

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