Public housing/ housing subsidies in London

[snarryfool]

Hello, invaluable comm:

Can someone point me to a source describing what a London resident would do to secure housing or a housing subsidy if they were suddenly and catastrophically disabled? This is the information I have found that seems to apply: http://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/housing/depositThe character in question is an

Comments

[philo7]

My immediate thought was whether your veteran was injured whilst in the army - if so, he would probably be being assisted by the Veterans Welfare Service.

(Sorry if this has posted twice, but my first attempt said it was marked as spam, presumably because I put a link in it. I've stripped the link but it is a straightforward google for the Veterans Welfare Service!)

Further thoughts:

If he was catastrophically disabled after that period, he is unlikely to be discharged from hospital with nowhere to go; the NHS social-care-and support guide states:

You shouldn’t be discharged from hospital until:
You are medically fit (this can only be decided by the consultant or someone the consultant has said can make the decision on their behalf).
You have had an assessment to look at the support you need to be discharged safely.
You have been given a written care plan that sets out the support you’ll get to meet your assessed needs.
The support described in your care plan has been put in place and it’s safe for you to be discharged.

I hope that helps a bit!

[thekumquat]

In addition to the above - is the home he already has obviously unreasonable? In most cases he would be taken home and given home care, ie a visit a couple times a day to help him wash, get to the toilet, get fed. In between visits may be expected to use incontinence pants and stay in one place, though may eventually get assistance to go out.

Financially, if you can't work then he would be entitled to claim ESA, though there's a lower rate if they think you could retrain and do something else. People with disabilities can claim PIP (was DLA), for both mobility and care needs. People on low income can claim Housing Benefit if they rent (it's possible to claim a bit for mortgage interest payments eventually). He would presumably get an army pension.

The British Legion may well assist in sorting out the above - for most people it can be months to sort out benefits and many get turned down. If he has to find somewhere new to live then social services who would have assessed his needs could help.

[philo7]

Yes, agreed. If he doesn't need wheelchair access, adaptions would be provided for his existing home, and any equipment needed loaned.

[snarryfool]

Thank you again!

[snarryfool]

Thank you very much, in particular for the information about money benefits.

Do you happen to know, off the top of your head, what level of financial benefit would be available to someone who might only be able to do "menial" work, having formerly worked in a skilled profession? He would indeed have an army pension.

If you don't know off the top of your head, please never mind! This has brought me to a level of detail at which I can probably let my 'verse's bureaucracy diverge from our reality without throwing UK readers out of the story.

[thekumquat]

Assuming he was working until the accident, then he could claim Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) if he was able to look for work and sign on every fortnight. Low paid work can be topped up with 'tax credits' and Housing Benefit. Any disability benefits (PIP, DLA) are independent of whether you are working but may entitle you to extra HB and tax credits.

Look up an online benefits calculator and see what it says.

[snarryfool]

Thank you! That's very helpful.

[snarryfool]

Thank you very much!

Yes, the catastrophe occurs well after he leaves the service; I apologize for not making that clearer in my original post.

You know what's weird? Although LJ marked your first reply as spam, it came to my In box. *rolls eyes at LJ*