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Housing/accomodation

roocatonroocaton Member Posts: 3 Listener
edited May 2019 in Housing and independent living
My sister is 38, has Cerebal Palsy and has lived with her Mum all her life in the Windsor/Maidenhead area. Until recently she has worked part time but a series of operations and a mental health episode has meant that she has been unable to do so and her SSP runs out next month

Recently Mum had a Stroke which my Sister witnessed and is widely thought to have contributed to her Mental Health collapse. Since then my Sister has expressed a desire to live independently and we are all very supportive of this but do not know where to start!

She has a fair bit of money saved and we all think she would benefit from living with other people with similar circumstances, but she would not be able to keep up a mortgage/rent for any length of time as it is likely that she won’t be able work for the foreseeable future.  However I don’t think she would be able to claim Housing Benefit because of her savings

Any help/advice gratefully received 



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Replies

  • Richard_ScopeRichard_Scope Community Team Posts: 2,483 Scope community team
    Hi @roocaton
    Welcome to the community. Here is a link to applying for housing in the Windsor and Maidenhead area
    I will also include a Benefits Calculator so you can check that your sister is receiving everything she is entitled to. If I can help further please let me know.
    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer - Cerebral Palsy

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  • Antonia_ScopeAntonia_Scope Member Posts: 1,783 Pioneering
    Hi @roocaton welcome to the community, how are you doing today?
    I hope your sister and mum are doing well?

    Please keep us updated and if you have any questions, please let us know.
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  • roocatonroocaton Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thank you very much. It is all a bit overwhelming!

    The Stroke Association have offered to help with the benefits side which is a relief- once these are sorted at least I’ll know what resources we have

    I should add that I live some distance away which makes things doubly difficult 
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Community champion Posts: 22,113 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    It's no longer possible to claim housing benefit because all areas are now a full universal credit area. Savings/capital of £16,000 will prevent her from claiming this until her savings drop below this level. Once the drop below this she will be able to claim UC but her savings will reduce the amount she can claim.
    Community champion and proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice i have given to members here on the community.
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  • roocatonroocaton Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Many thanks, I think she is going to struggle to get anything and that this may well set off another mental health episode.

    As she is a relative of a Stroke victim the Stroke Association have offered to assist and I am hoping that their expertise will help.
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  • ScotScot Member Posts: 5 Listener
    Hi there. Look under MySafeHome if you receive ESA in the support group AND high rate PIP? They were helping me with purchasing a home (I live in Kent) but you must be in the above 2 categories to qualify. You can get a mortgage if on these 2 benefits, like a shared ownership and rent part paid from your benefits. Any good?
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