Rehousing for Medical Reasons

Luchia

Hello Everyone!

I had my Gateway 2 Care assessment last week and was told that my current home isn't suitable due to my disability and unfortunately they can't adapt it due to the building design that I would need to be Re-Housed, The lady that came out is going to send a report to my local housing authority but she said that due to my needs I would be a "Band B" and would need a ground floor property, I told her I couldn't live in a flat with a communal area and she informed me I would be eligible for a Bungalow as my medical needs would waver the age limit(I'm 30 and the age limit for Bungalow is 60+ but due to medical needs I would be a priority for a Bungalow).
Could anyone explain what this band thing is? She said it's the highest band as A is reserved for extreme needs(fire, flood etc).

Alex_Alumni

Hi there @Luchia I'm glad to hear that they've waved the age limit for a bungalow for you! Are you excited to be moving?

As far as I understand it, the bands are a way of organising which people need support to find suitable housing most.  Priority bandings for housing are:

Band A – for households with an urgent need to move.
Band B – for households with a high priority to move. 
Band C – for households with an identified housing need.
Band D – for households with no other housing need but interested in affordable social housing and Homebuy.

So you are the next priority after anyone who needs to be rehoused after their own home has been damaged by flood or fire for example. The definitions might vary depending on your local council, so you may want to check with them. 

I hope that's helped answer you questions, but do ask if anything else doesn't make sense.

Alex

Luchia

Quite scared about moving to be fair, I've been in my current home for over 10 years so gonna be a lot to deal with.
I was told that B is really the highest band as A is quite rare.
Gotta admit living in a Bungalow sounds great and would definitely be a huge help with my mobility needs as at the moment I only leave my home for appointments due to the stairs which as you can imagine isn't a great situation.
From what I've been told it's now just a waiting game, I've registered on the website they sent me to "bid" on homes but my banding won't be available until the local housing association has read the report and updated my banding so no clue how long that takes but I'm guessing a few months

Alex_Alumni

10 years is a long time, I'm not surprised you're feeling apprehensive! 

Yes, that's what I've heard too, so hopefully it won't be too long a wait. I'm sure a bungalow would be a real boost to your independence

Sounds like you've done all you need to do, so fingers crossed the wheels are in motion now.

Do keep us up to date with any news if you can, and I hope you find a lovely new home soon! 

Jo_2022

Hello @Luchia, welcome to the community.

It’s fantastic that you are trying to help yourself! Yes home searching can be stressful, especially if you have a disability. Unfortunately some people spend years on a long waiting list, so it is brilliant that you have been placed in Band B priority for housing. 

You may like to have a look at these resources:

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/housing-home-adaptations/

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/adult-social-care/

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/how_to_move_up_the_waiting_list

I wish you all the very best of luck 😊. Take care

Luchia

Hey everyone.

Got a email to let me know the choose n move account has been setup but was quite alarmed when I checked and saw the banding said D.
I phoned immediately and was told thats just the default banding on new accounts and not to worry as the application was now with the Accessible Homes Team(The department the lady who came out to do the assessment was from) which is basically their medical team and they would review it and update my banding so I guess now it's just the waiting game.
I'm not overly sure how long this part takes as they don't give much information away, The lady that came out to do the assessment said she was writing a report as my current home is unsuitable for me and that she was pretty sure I'd be given Banding B which is essentially the highest as A band is only given under extreme circumstances.
Sadly the easter holiday is going to delay things as they will be out of office until Tuesday and I imagine they will have a backlog of calls and emails to deal with.

I'm still rather clueless about what happens next or how long it takes as the information I've been given is very scarce and all they can tell me is my application is currently been held by the accessible homes(medical team) and will be reviewed by them, But they are the same team who came out to do the medical assessment so unsure what that means.

Luchia

Going much faster than I expected!
The medical report has already been produced and it states due to my medical needs that I need to be placed in highest priority for a 2 bedroom bungalow, thankfully it states this is the only property type which will be suitable for me, also all adaptions will be done before moving in.
They will show me 3-6 Bungalows per week until I find one I'd want to move into

Alex_Alumni

I'm pleased to hear how things are moving forward @Luchia that's really positive news!

I hope that the search goes well, and do keep us updated as and when you can

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Luchia how are you this weekend, hopefully there's a bit of sunshine where you are  

I know it's been a little while since you posted your last update, so you'll have to remind me how things are going?

Luchia

Alex_Scope said:

Hello @Luchia how are you this weekend, hopefully there's a bit of sunshine where you are  

I know it's been a little while since you posted your last update, so you'll have to remind me how things are going?

Hi

Thankfully everything is going pretty quickly, they have given me the highest priority banding and medical exception(means I can go for properties reversed for elderly and disabled), they have said they will do all adaptations before moving in too.
They have put on my account that I am to be given priority for Bungalows as I told them due to anxiety I can’t live in a flat, all I have to do now is wait for a bungalow to come up that I love and they will do all rest and I can move in

L_Volunteer

Hi @Luchia. Thanks for your response.

It sounds really positive that everything is going pretty quickly for you and they have given you the highest priority banding, medical exception and reassurance that they will do all adaptations before moving in.

Good luck with finding a bungalow! Hopefully, a bungalow will become available soon. It sounds like they listened to you. How are you feeling about the bungalow searching at the moment?

Also, you mentioned anxiety, how are you feeling at the moment? We are here for you if you would like to share more with us 

Luchia

Everything is going great so far!
we haven’t seen a bungalow we want yet but the website shows what our position would be when we do bid and we are coming in 1st to 4th on all bungalows, now just a matter of waiting for one to come up we want

Alex_Alumni

That's good to hear @Luchia you sound really excited about it!

I'm excited for you too, we are all keeping our fingers crossed for your perfect bungalow, let us know when you find it.

Luchia

Will do!

the medical officer who’s assigned to me said to be very very selective as only a handful of people have Band B Medical and it was basically like been given the Hope Diamond.

lots of bungalows go on each week but none that we have loved yet, we do have a few essentials things we are looking for but are quite open to the area, thankfully bungalows here tend to be built in quiet retired areas which is great for me

sarahw85

That’s great news Im in band c . I. had my medical assessment today and will hear back early next week . I’m a stroke survivor with a young baby , stairs are exhausting especially with the bathroom upstairs. I’m hoping they will say I’m eligible for a bungalow or ground floor maisonette I have sensory issues so  I hope I don’t have to share facilities/ garden as noise is a problem. 

Does anyone know what they will say? Coukd I be moved to band b too ? 

Also did you have your area of choice met ?

Luchia

sarahw85 said:

That’s great news Im in band c . I. had my medical assessment today and will hear back early next week . I’m a stroke survivor with a young baby , stairs are exhausting especially with the bathroom upstairs. I’m hoping they will say I’m eligible for a bungalow or ground floor maisonette I have sensory issues so  I hope I don’t have to share facilities/ garden as noise is a problem. 

Does anyone know what they will say? Coukd I be moved to band b too ? 

Also did you have your area of choice met ?

Hi

this is quite an old thread now but I got a lovely 2 bedroom Bungalow after bidding for 7 weeks, Although I had a bit of an advantage as I had a family member who worked for the council expedite things quite a bit for me. 

Every area is different but here they won’t allow a baby/childten to be housed in a Bungalow so that will depend on your area.

As for banding mine was increased to Urgent Medical Priority B+(As they say it’s not what you know but who you know).

The Bungalow I got is amazing, very large 2 bedroom with private front and back garden in an amazing area, it’s very rare Bungalows become available in this area so was incredible timing, last time one became available other than mine was over 15 years ago(people don’t want to give them up once they have them) 

Bungalows are strictly 55-60+ unless you get an exception(which is incredibly rare) which is how I got mine.

You would need to look into your councils policy as here they are extremely strictly about not allowing children/babies in the Bungalows(not sure why) 

sarahw85

That’s a very good point didn’t think of if there was age and child restrictions  I will update once I have more information. 

I’m pleased you were the exception and you’re happy with the place you’ve been given . Will my medical decision letter tell me what I’m eligible for? 

Luchia

sarahw85 said:

That’s a very good point didn’t think of if there was age and child restrictions  I will update once I have more information. 

I’m pleased you were the exception and you’re happy with the place you’ve been given . Will my medical decision letter tell me what I’m eligible for? 

What do you mean by Medical decision letter?
Do you mean your Occupational Health assessment?

sarahw85

Sorry to explain I made two housing applications general was accepted in band C  my medical assessment was today . They have my gp and physio details should they need to contact for more info 

they said to wait for the outcome of this assessment before requesting they review my band 

Luchia

It works a little differently here.

First you have an occupational assessment, they will decide if they can adapt your current home(they will always try and adapt the current home rather than moving people), if you current home can’t be adapted then they will make recommendations on what they think would be suitable for you.

Once the council have the report they will update your account and either increase, remain the same or decrease your banding.

Unfortunately here Doctors etc have no influence on what they decide(may vary depending on area).

Banding here is 

A - Urgent Need - Due to fire or disaster causing current home to be inhabitable.

B* Medical - Urgent need to move due to severely affecting health(Risk to life) this is only given under extreme circumstances.

B+ Medical Priority - Current Home isn’t able to be adapted and is unsuitable but isn’t a risk to life.

B - Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless very soon.

C - General medical, Person needs to be moved to more suitable home, Not a high priority as current home is usable just unsuitable. 

D - None of the above(no chance of every getting an offer) 

Getting B*Medical is almost impossible under normal circumstances, I was told when I was awarded this only 2 other people had it out of 10,000 on the list, Anything you bid on with this band is pretty much guaranteed to be yours.

sarahw85

Ok here is band 1-5  with medical welfare or health being in band 2 (b)

fingers crossed for next week