Housing Benefit and bedroom allocation

[Traherne]

Hi. I'll be giving up work in October to look after my wife and will be claiming Housing Benefit (amongst other things). I believe that the amount given will be based on an assessed bedroom need. As a married couple we are only allowed an amount for one bedroom. Apparently if we had an outside carer (who can't be a family member) staying 3 nights a week we'd be able to claim a two bedroom rate. As I need to sleep in a separate room with increasing frequency for all the obvious reasons, is there a statutory requirement for the local authority to pay US the two bed rate?
It seems draconian to insist that married people HAVE to share a bedroom even where one of the couple has dementia.

thanks

[jeany123]

There was a thread the other day about this you might like to read it


http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showt...ousing+benefit



Jeany x

[Traherne]

Thanks Jeany123. I've read the thread. Not much help I'm afraid... the answers are more about assistance on the care side rather than the harsh financial side of things. What I'm concerned about is the idea that because a couple are married it must be assumed they sleep together. This ain't necessarily so even in the best of relationships. I was glad of the mention of Ian Duncan Smith being wrong-footed on this. I had heard from someone else that he was going to take another look at this but I don't think he has.

[FifiMo]

Could you not speak to your GP and get them to write a note to the benefits people explaining that you have a medical need to sleep in separate room due to your wife's dementia and that failure to do so would be detrimental to your health and consequently to your ability to care for her on a long term basis? It would certainly be more expensive to the public purse if your wife had to be put in a care home that's for sure.

Fiona

[jeany123]

Thanks Jeany123. I've read the thread. Not much help I'm afraid... the answers are more about assistance on the care side rather than the harsh financial side of things. What I'm concerned about is the idea that because a couple are married it must be assumed they sleep together. This ain't necessarily so even in the best of relationships. I was glad of the mention of Ian Duncan Smith being wrong-footed on this. I had heard from someone else that he was going to take another look at this but I don't think he has.

Yes I realise that I but just thought you might get the same answers as them , but surely there are people that have queried this rule and won , I think you have a good enough case to do this, if I where you I would try CAB and get help from your member of parliament it can't do any harm.


Good luck and best wishes Jeany x