Service charge more than rent!

[ImagineRainbows]

My adult child is about to move into supported housing as he has disabilities, as such renting in the open market isn’t possible for him.

These are the costs we have been quoted for a 1 bedroom flat.

Rent - £107 a week (payable to the LA)
Service charge - £130 a week (payable to the supported living company)
Care fees - Just shy of £2000 a week - paid by adult social care

The service charge covers gas, electric, water, repairs and maintenance to shared areas. It DOES NOT include any care fees as these are covered separately.

How is it acceptable that the service charge is more than the rent! More than I pay in utilities in a 4 bed house and more than anyone would pay on the open market but because it’s supported living it seems the can charge what they like and it’s vulnerable people being absolutely bankrupted with these insane fees!

Going to have to turn it down as it’s unaffordable which means he misses out on a place where he can be independent and have the care he needs. And we wonder why so many vulnerable people fall off the radar!

He hasn’t had a DOLS assessment. I was told they don’t need to do this currently as he is compliant and following advice. I have also been told capacity is decision specific so while he doesn’t have capacity to sign a tenancy that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have capacity for something different and as either myself or my partner will be there every day after work until he goes to sleep he is fine overnight. He does not leave the room without someone with him. It’s the better option as the alternative means he will be over 80 miles away from home as that the closest residential placement with spaces.

Hi OP,
Are you sure that this setting with support only 9-5 is the right one for your son (and your family)?

You have said that he needs support with everything such as showering, washing and I assume getting something to eat and keeping himself safe. You have said he can't go out alone I think. Wouldn't this mean he requires 24 hour support? Could he leave the building independently if there was a fire?

I have read that you intend to look after him after 5 o clock - to me it seems that you would be massively missing an opportunity here to establish a workable balance for your family.

For context I have worked in a short break service for people with learning disabilities for a decade and I also have a child with autism who won't ever live independently - (although he is only 7).

I am concerned that you might be making a decision about this placement (being the only option almost) based on very limited knowledge. I don't mean that disrespectfully but with the context of the benefits questions it seems like you are feeling your way in the dark.

The adults with learning disabilities I work with, or who move on from our service live either with family or professional carers (like an adult version of foster care) or (when moving on) can live in residential care, supported living or their own property with a team of carers providing 24 hour care (this option is rare and I assume the parents have to fight hard for it). There are many different care settings in the surrounding towns here.

In terms of other support these adults can be attending college (beyond 18), day centre/project type settings such as farms up to every day (with transport contract provided by the local authority) or have one to one support (with the funding for x many hours a week provided by the local authority in the form of a personal budget).

The short break setting I work in people have an allocation of nights to use each year after being assessed e.g. 40 nights each year. These people often still attend their day service while staying with us.

Does your (adult) child have a social worker? If not you need to ask for one and a care needs assessment.

This assessment is to find out what care and support needs your son has but also what care and support needs you have as carers and as a family e.g. to recharge and spend time with your partner or other children and to work.

If you haven't already please try to access this process so you can become more aware of all the possible forms of support options. I think a solution that requires you to care for your child after 5pm until 9am not in your own home sounds very straining on your wellbeing and marriage and not necessarily a good solution after being totally committed to raising your child to adulthood. Where is the freedom for you if this requires you to be working and then provide care out of your home 24 hours a day.

If you thought about what care and support your family and son needs would a service with support ending at 5pm be it?

Edit to add sometimes people also leave our service to go to a residential college.

Also just to add OP in the context of day centres by "everyday" I mean Mon - Fri. They tend to close for bank holidays but not for entire weeks like a school but just for the actual bank holiday day usually.

You need to get your DS a social worker and some proper support to ensure he's getting the right benefits.
Depending on your council they might have a cost of living or benefits help team who can help you.
If not go to CAB.
I think he's on only half the benefits he should get.
No way that someone who has to live in residential care with a £2k pm care budget would be expected to live on £80pm.
There's been a few mistakes made, which I understand, they don't make it easy or transparent sometimes, especially when you are in the thick of it caring & working.

I'd accept the flat, as you say this is your only option anyway. Then get urgent help to get the benefits sorted first. Do you have a local food bank? They often have additional support to help with issues like claiming benefits etc.

Have you tried your local carers centre sometimes called princess royal centre.
They give advice and support to family carers.

Would your son really be safe alone overnight.
What if he became ill or there was some issue in the premises eg a leak.
Shouldn't he be somewhere where there is sleeping in cover.
I hope you get it all sorted.

My HA 1 bed flat cost me 1100 a month in rent and bills. That was several years ago. If utilities are included, that's about going rate.

We very much are finding our way in the dark but we’ve explored all options. He’s been on the list for all options of residential / supported living for 2 years and this is the only option within an hour of my home.

Moving him further away will mean I don’t have time to go each day after work and manage my younger children and will isolate him as a result. The ideal would be him staying at home but it’s unaffordable sadly for my partner to continue not working and caring for him.

He is physically able to shower and dress etc. but he won’t think to do it unless told. He won’t remember to use soap unless reminded beforehand each time. He will dress himself in swimming shorts or pyjamas if he isn’t told what clothes to wear etc.

He has a social worker and has had a needs assessment yes. Social worker isn’t great really and will hand him a page of ‘answers’ to questions he asks and then tick a box saying he understands that when really all he’s done is read back words with no understanding of the matter.

He would phone me and I would deal with it. Another reason why I want him to be close to home. Even with carers on site his default would be to phone me. In 2 years the only offer he’s had for a place with overnight cover was 80 miles away.

Repairs and maintenance should be covered by the rent and unless that service charge includes a lot of food no way does gas electricity and water cost that much for a studio flat

It seems highly risky to leave him overnight. Is there a warden system who would check during night?
You cannot rely on him phoning you if there is a fire or other emergency.
Have you ever left him alone overnight in your house? If not why not?
You cannot commit to being there every evening either
Does he go out alone?
You say he needs support constantly and it seems way too risky to think of leaving him in his own flat overnight alone
What if he got sick in the night diarrhea or vomiting and no one there?

My son is also disabled but he gets £700 a month UC- he is 19. Has your son had a capability for work assessment as that makes a huge difference - basically you apply for ESA credits only which triggers the work capability assessment
. It sounds to Me like his UC is just the basic rate

Also ask the doctor to do backdated sick notes

sorry if I have missed an update but why wont UC pay anything towards the service charge?