to the PDF. - Family Advice and Information Resource
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to the PDF. - Family Advice and Information Resource
Housing Options for people with learning disabilities 2015 Contents Introduction 1 Living Alone or Living with Others 2 Types of Housing 3 Housing Support 8 Adaptations 10 Benefits 12 Introduction This booklet gives information about housing and support for people with learning disabilities and their carers in Edinburgh. This booklet has been written for people with learning disabilities and their carers who want to find out more about the different housing options. It explains the different choices, how to go about getting housing and what support people can get. There is also information about adaptations and benefits. Moving out of the family home is a major change and it is important that everyone concerned has a chance to think about and plan the move properly over time. It can take a while to find the right place to live and organise support. If someone has to move due to death, illness or because a carer is no longer able to cope, then the move may not be adequately planned, no one will have time to get used to the idea and available choices are likely to be fewer. If you are planning on finding accommodation through the local authority, a voluntary organisation or a charity, you will find that waiting lists are long. It is a good idea to be registered as soon as possible. 1 Living Alone or Living with Others It is important to think about whether you would be happier living alone or with others. People often have strong views about whether they want to share with others or would prefer their own accommodation and support. Living on your own means that you have more choice and control over your life. It also means that you do not have to share with people you do not get on with. However, if people do choose to live alone it is important that they are safe and have easy access to people and activities in the local community so that they do not become isolated. A core and cluster approach can also be used. People live in a house or a group of flats, they can then share staff, or staff can be based in a core building. People do not have to share facilities but can have access to support at times of an emergency. The flats can also be adapted to include telecare (using technology to monitor a person's well-being, and summon help if required) which can maximise independence. 2 Types of Housing This section gives an overview of all the different types of housing available to people with learning disabilities in Edinburgh. Renting With the right support, many people with learning disabilities can have their own tenancy. Increasing numbers of people are living in properties rented from local authorities, registered social landlords and charitable and private landlords. Registered Social Landlords and Council Housing To apply for housing with the local authority or a housing association you need to register with Edindex. You can collect a form from any of the housing associations or the local council neighbourhood office, or call the Edindex Team on 0131 529 5080. You can also download the form from: http://keytochoice.scotsman.com/pdf/EdIndex_App_Form.pdf Due to the limited amount of social housing in Edinburgh, if you do not have priority status then you could be on the waiting list for years. It is worth getting your name on the housing register as soon as possible, even if you do not need or want to move immediately. Once you have registered and received your EdIndex form you can then make bids for properties advertised in ‘EH your Key to Choice’ available each week at www.keytochoice.scotsman.com and in the Monday Edinburgh Evening News. Free copies of the list are also available at local Council Neighbourhood Offices, Housing Associations/Co-operative Offices and Libraries. You can bid for a maximum of 3 properties each week and can place your bid by filling in the paper form on the back page of the supplement or electronically via the website. If you need help to complete an Edindex form or help to bid, call the Edindex team on 0131 529 5080. EdIndex can make a referral to the Housing Support Team for those with low support needs. Website: http://keytochoice.scotsman.com/ 3 Private Landlords & Letting Agencies Housing can be obtained from a private landlord. The City of Edinburgh Council has a list of reputable letting companies that only have housing from registered landlords. The advantage to renting from a private landlord is that you will not have to wait for housing and there is more choice about where you live. However there are some disadvantages. Private lets often have short term leases of 6 months, depending on the landlord or letting agency. These leases can be renewed. However the landlord can ask for the property back at the end of each lease. Private renting is much more expensive and housing benefit may not cover the entire cost. You can get more information on private landlords from the Housing Options Team at the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group: Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group: Room 4.30, St Margaret's House, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE Email: [email protected] Website: http://eptag.org.uk/ 4 Housing Advice and Information Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership (EHAP) EHAP gives free and confidential housing advice, information, education and representation to Edinburgh tenants and owner-occupiers. Ediburgh Housing Advice Partnership 1st Floor, ELS House 555 Gorgie Road Edinburgh EH11 3LE Tel: 0845 302 4607 Website: www.ehap.org.uk/ Shelter Scotland 4th floor Scotiabank House 6 South Charlotte Street Edinburgh EH24AW Advice Helpline: 0808 800 4444 Website: scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice If you rent privately then you will need to organise housing support through your social worker, or contact housing support agencies yourself. A list of all support providers in Edinburgh is on the FAIR website: www.fairadvice.org.uk/information-and-advice.php 5 Owning your own home Some people may be able to become home owners. There are a number of options to owning your own home. This section tells you about some of the options. However to find out about each option in detail you should contact Housing Options Scotland. Housing Options Scotland The Melting Pot 5 Rose Street Edinburgh EH2 2PR Tel: 0131 247 1400 Email: [email protected] Website: www.housingoptionsscotland.org.uk Housing Options Scotland will ask you to complete a basic information form. You can do this online at: www.housingoptionsscotland.org.uk/get-help/ If you prefer they can email you a form, or send it to you by post. If you require the form in an alternative format you have to let them know. Once they receive your form they will send you a report with all your housing options. It normally takes 3 weeks to receive this report. You will then be allocated a caseworker who will work with you to help make your preferred option a reality. Inheriting a house Property can be inherited from parents or other family members. This does not require the inheritor to have legal capacity, i.e. sufficient understanding of the obligations they are entering into. Parents can also purchase all or part of a property for their child. They can also set up a discretionary trust when they are alive or instruct this to happen in their will. This will ensure funds are used to improve a person’s life without effecting their entitlement to benefits and community care services. 6 Shared Equity Shared equity is a way to buy a home from a registered social landlord without having to pay for all of it. When you buy a shared equity home from a housing association you pay for most of it and the Scottish Government pays the rest. You can find out what social registered landlords are building as new shared ownership properties from the Scottish Government website on: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/BuiltEnvironment/Housing/BuyingSelling/lift/Sharedownershipeastregion Supported Housing Housing Associations, The City of Edinburgh Council and some voluntary organisations can provide supported housing in group homes, shared and single tenancies. You can sometimes apply to these organisations directly but some may ask for an application to be made by a social worker. Funding for this type of accommodation comes from the Department of health and social care and requires an application for funding to be made by a social worker once an assessment has been made. Registered Care Homes A registered care home is a home for people who need a lot of support. Registered care homes cater for small numbers though some might house up to ten people. People have their own room and share the lounge, kitchen and bathrooms with others. They generally provide full board and personal care, and there is usually 24 hour staffing cover, which may include a staff member sleeping at the home overnight. Registered home owners and/or managers are checked to make sure they are suitable. The home will be checked regularly. Larger homes are inspected twice a year and smaller homes (with less residents), usually less often. Registered care homes are run by the local authority, voluntary and private organisations. FAIR’s website has a list of all registered care homes in Edinburgh. You can download it from: Website: www.fairadvice.org.uk/information-and-advice.php If you are interested in a place at a registered care home you should contact your social worker if you have one, or call Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324 to make a referral for adults, or 0131 200 2327 for children and families. 7 Shared Lives Shared Lives is a model where a person with support needs lives in another person’s home and gets support and accommodation from them. Sometimes it is with a family, but also may be with a single home owner. It is not possible to create security of tenure for people in such settings. For more information, call Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324 and they will put you in touch with the Shared Lives Team. 8 Housing Support Housing and support can be provided as a “package” but special arrangements can be made to suit a person’s needs. If the person who you care for has a social worker then this would be the first person you would contact about housing and housing support. Funding for places in residential care homes and supported housing comes from the department of health and social care. The social worker will need to make an assessment of need and then make an application for funding. People with low support needs may be able to access housing support from the local authority housing department. For a list of all Housing Support providers visit the FAIR website at: www.fairadvice.org.uk/information-and-advice.php 9 Adaptations Some people might need to make adaptations to their home for mobility of health reasons. If you rent your home from the City of Edinburgh Council or a Housing Association you need to speak to your Housing Officer about adaptations to make the property. For private properties City of Edinburgh Council provide grants for some adaptations. The grant can cover 80% to 100% of the cost depending on the person’s financial circumstances. Those claiming some benefits would receive a grant that covered all the costs. To apply for a grant, first you have to contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324 and ask for an assessment. An occupational therapist will then arrange to meet you at home and make an assessment on what adaptations you would need. If the adaptations can be grant aided the occupational therapist will contact the City of Edinburgh Council The City of Edinburgh Council can also provide advice, information and grants for adapting homes. To find out if you qualify, call Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324 or go to: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20057/housing_support_and_advice/4 35/adapting_your_home If you rent your home from a private landlord, you will need to ask their permission to make adaptations. However, your landlord cannot refuse consent unreasonably. 10 Community Equipment Service Edinburgh has a Community Equipment Service. It provides a range of aids and simple adaptations designed to help you around the home, such as pickup reachers, dressing sticks and grabrails. You can request these items free of charge and without being assessed by a health or social care professional. This service is intended for use by adults. If equipment is required for someone under 16, please contact Social Care Direct or your GP. If you live in Edinburgh you can search a directory of aids and simple adaptations and request the items you need, at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/15/equipment_to_help_you_live_at_ho me The catalogue is available as a booklet in GP surgeries and hospitals. You can also ask the Community Equipment Service or Social Care Direct to send it to you. Community Equipment Service 42 King’s Haugh Edinburgh EH16 5UY Tel: 0131 529 6300 Email: [email protected] If you are looking for equipment such as a wheelchair, zimmer frame or a similar substantial item, this will require a professional assessment. You can contact Social Care Direct by calling 0131 200 2324 for adults, or 0131 200 2327 for children, for advice or to arrange this, or contact your GP. If you are leaving hospital, the hospital social worker will assess your needs and arrange the equipment you need to make living at home easier. If you need to borrow equipment to enable you to go on holiday or stay with friends or family, the Red Cross have a short term loan service for items such as wheelchairs, bath seats and walking frames. You can contact Red Cross on 01506 650 754 or by going to: www.redcross.org.uk/Where-we-work/In-the-UK/Scotland/EastScotland/LocalServices/Mobility-aids 11 Benefits If you rent your home you can apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit. If you own your home you can apply for Council Tax benefit but not Housing benefit. You may be able to receive help to cover your mortgage interest costs if you are on certain benefits. The amount of Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit you receive depends on your income. If you are entitled to Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance you will be passported on to full entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. To make a claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you need to contact the City of Edinburgh Council: The City of Edinburgh Council Income and Benefits Division PO Box 12331, Edinburgh EH7 9DN Tel: 0131 469 5000 Email: [email protected] You can also make a claim in person. All the Neighbourhood Offices run an appointment system. Please phone to make an appointment before visiting your local office. You can find your local office by going to: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20005/council_tax/92/ways_to_contac t_us You can also visit the office at 249 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Opening times are: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm Tuesday 10am - 4.30pm Friday 8.30am - 3pm No appointments are needed to visit the High Street office, but you are likely to wait less time to be seen if you visit before 11.30am. If you require information or advice regarding benefits please contact FAIR on 0131 662 1962. 12 printed & published by Family Advice & Information Resource 95 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1QG Tel 0131 662 1962 Fax 0131 662 9486 Email [email protected] Website: www.fairadvice.org.uk Information for People with Learning Disabilities and Carers FAIR is an information and advice service for people with learning disabilities, parents, carers and people who work for them. The service we offer is: Independent We are not part of any other organisation. Confidential Anything you tell us will stay private. Free You do not pay for any of our services. © FAIR Ltd 2015 a Charitable Company limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No 135696 Registered Scottish Charity No SC002280