Son diagnosed with ASD, on housing list

schc

My sonnwas diagnosed with asd in March 2022 after a 7 year battle for help. We live at my parents home with my younger brother. We sleep in a box room sharing a single bed. I struggle to get him to school and were always tired as he will be 9 this march. I applied for the housing list in May 2022. I recieved a decision for band 3 for overcrowding but could be over a 2 year wait. I sent all the medical forms for asthma and his diagnosis. They determined that there is no medical and won't be put in a higher priority band.

I disagree with this as it is effecting his behaviour, sleep and schooling. 

I asked if I could challenge this or take it further to be told the professional medical doctor made there decision. What can I do?
Many thanks 

poppy123456

You can refer him for a needs assessment from your local Authority. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

If you can get priority band 2 then the wait could be less, though you could still be waiting quite sometime.

Other than that there's private renting. However, if you'll need to claim for help with any rent then you could hit barriers of trying to find a landlord that will accept you.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @schc and thanks for reaching out, I hope you've found the above reply helpful. I'm concerned to read that you're all sleeping in a box room, it must be awful to manage.

The housing charity Shelter has some guidance on how to move up the council house waiting list if you feel you are in the wrong band.

You can always contact the Local government and social care ombudsman (LG & SCO) if you feel you have an issue that requires investigation. The LG & SCO can help determine if decisions by the council are being made the right way.

Does your son get any support from CAMHS at all? 

I hope you can get the support you need for your own mental health and wellbeing, as well as your family's. If you need someone to listen, the team at Samaritans are there for a chat, and you don't need to be at crisis point. Just call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can support you further.

cornishmummy

Do you get dla for said child ? Also may be an idea to try other areas as some more popular than others . When we needed to love from our 2 bed to a 3 , we have to love out off the area else would off wait couple years instead only waited 6 weeks daughter get middle rate dla which banded up up to high priority band b 

schc

My son gets middle rate and low mobility. They still won't give him a priority on them as apparently it isn't medical. Might have to look at a different area however it is hard enough to get him into school being local to it