First of all, apologies to anyone who might feel we're being unethical or otherwise trying to get out of a contract unfairly. My son's best friend recently took on a tenancy in a house share after a long period of sporadic homelessness. Since then, she has had a complete mental breakdown and is living with her boyfriend's family and with us while undergoing intensive therapy (4 times a week). She has attempted suicide on multiple occasions and can't be left alone at all, even in the bath (which is why the two families are dividing her care between us). There is no question but that she is very seriously ill and the professionals dealing with her case agree that it will be some months before she makes any major improvements. Now she is on SSP and is getting some housing benefit, but it is not enough to pay the full rent. This is partly because it's been extremely difficult to get the HB people all the paperwork they need and so they are basing her award on her previous pay right now. I'm hoping we can get that sorted out this week and that they will accept her reasons and award backdated payments. It will still be more than £100 a month short though, based on our LHA rates. She still has about 8 months on the contract for a flat she can't live in and now can't afford. Her boyfriend's parents agreed verbally with the landlady to be guarantors, but did not sign anything at all. Is there any chance of her being able to end the contract early, bearing in mind that she was already becoming ill when she signed and does have a long history of mental illness? I realise this may seem unfair on the landlady, but the alternative is spiralling rent arrears and court, which would also be a lot of hassle for her! Obviously, no one would expect the deposit (1 months rent) to be returned.

I will attempt to be as brief as possible. I am sure a number of my queries have been answered previously, but if somebody could kindly guide me to other links etc it would be greatly appreciated. I will happily post (albeit with peronal info deleted) the final version of my/our submission once completed. In a nutshell my sister is based in the South and has been on IB since 2007 and is now to be transferred to ESA, if she passes tests etc. She is clinically depressed and on bad days stays at home and in bed all day. She is on medication , but because she does not threaten to commit suicide or is addicted to drugs his local mental health service have essentially abandoned hier My folks get her shoppiing and take her meals. Other than that she is a virtual recluse and does not bother washing or dressing. She (and I) have read posts on here and other sites re ATOS etc and my sis has convinced herself just to give in as she is certain that she will score zero points and will not be taken seriously. Further as she has substantial savings ,she's on contribution based IB and thus even if she is transferred she will only obtained a max of 12 months entitlement. I want to help and can fill out her ESA50 and get an advocate to attend an ATOS medical. I have following queries : 1) I get the impression that i will have to overstate or even overly emphasise her disability. I intend to simply focus on her worst/ bad days, as ref to a good day may be misinterpreted. Does that sound sensible or fraudulent !? 2) The two main sections which apply to her on the ESA50 are Sn 13 and 17. Re Sn 13 at worst she does nothing all day, and has even been known to stay in bed all day. She does grab a bit of food , takes some, if not all, her medication , and makes a cup of tea. Would that be considered adequate to conduct 2 personal actions as per Sn13 decriptors? Re Sn 17 as a recluse she does not come into contact with other people regularly , but when she does she can behave in a disinhibited manner. For example in past 2-3 years she was arrested for a public order offence , for which she has medical reports confirming disinhibited behaviour ; she went to solicitor's premise and threw all her files out of the window....and was thrown out of a former golf club ( she doesn't play anymore) for violence towards staff. She also left hierlast job due to her mental disorder and disinhibited behaviour. If described adequately could this warrant a score of 15 points alone? Does she need to obtain another medical report from her GP - problem here is that she never really opens up to scale of her problem to GP, who is more concerned about physical problems....hypertension and insulin diabetes. Will it be a disaster if she does not obtain a detailed report from her GP, which will doubtless be caveated anyhow. I sense i can better describe her ailments as per ESA50 descriptors. How long is typical timeframe between receipt of ESA50 and date of ATOS medical ? Is this timeframe extended if a request is made on ESA50 for assessment to be taped ? I have seen numerous guidance docs on how to fill out Part2 of the ESA50. Anybody know which is most apt for clinical depression suffererers. There's a forum who charge 9.95 pounds to download ESA guide packs - are they really any better than pro bono advice avialble on internet and via this most helpful forum ? I will attempt to be as brief as possible. I am sure a number of my queries have been answered previously, but if somebody could kindly guide me to other links etc it would be greatly appreciated. I will happily post (albeit with peronal info deleted) the final version of my/our submission once completed. In a nutshell my sister is based in the South and has been on IB since 2007 and is now to be transferred to ESA, if she passes tests etc. She is clinically depressed and on bad days stays at home and in bed all day. She is on medication , but because she does not threaten to commit suicide or is addicted to drugs his local mental health service have essentially abandoned hier My folks get her shoppiing and take her meals. Other than that she is a virtual recluse and does not bother washing or dressing. She (and I) have read posts on here and other sites re ATOS etc and my sis has convinced herself just to give in as she is certain that she will score zero points and will not be taken seriously. Further as she has substantial savings ,she's on contribution based IB and thus even if she is transferred she will only obtained a max of 12 months entitlement. I want to help and can fill out her ESA50 and get an advocate to attend an ATOS medical. I have following queries : 1) I get the impression that i will have to overstate or even overly emphasise her disability. I intend to simply focus on her worst/ bad days, as ref to a good day may be misinterpreted. Does that sound sensible or fraudulent !? 2) The two main sections which apply to her on the ESA50 are Sn 13 and 17. Re Sn 13 at worst she does nothing all day, and has even been known to stay in bed all day. She does grab a bit of food , takes some, if not all, her medication , and makes a cup of tea. Would that be considered adequate to conduct 2 personal actions as per Sn13 decriptors? Re Sn 17 as a recluse she does not come into contact with other people regularly , but when she does she can behave in a disinhibited manner. For example in past 2-3 years she was arrested for a public order offence , for which she has medical reports confirming disinhibited behaviour ; she went to solicitor's premise and threw all her files out of the window....and was thrown out of a former golf club ( she doesn't play anymore) for violence towards staff. She also left hierlast job due to her mental disorder and disinhibited behaviour. If described adequately could this warrant a score of 15 points alone? Does she need to obtain another medical report from her GP - problem here is that she never really opens up to scale of her problem to GP, who is more concerned about physical problems....hypertension and insulin diabetes. Will it be a disaster if she does not obtain a detailed report from her GP, which will doubtless be caveated anyhow. I sense i can better describe her ailments as per ESA50 descriptors. How long is typical timeframe between receipt of ESA50 and date of ATOS medical ? Is this timeframe extended if a request is made on ESA50 for assessment to be taped ? I have seen numerous guidance docs on how to fill out Part2 of the ESA50. Anybody know which is most apt for clinical depression suffererers. There's a forum who charge 9.95 pounds to download ESA guide packs - are they really any better than pro bono advice avialble on internet and via this most helpful forum ? Finally, I refer to SN10 - physical symptoms . My sister occasionally has a loss of consciousness due to either hypoglycaemia and /or hypotension (eg a low blood pressure when she gets off the sofa). This may well score high points, but she is paranoid that ATOS/ DWP will reveal such info to the DVLA and this may result in her driving licence being revoked. Also do any members have examples of what specific questions were asked by an ATOS assessor at a medical , specifically in respect of Sn 13 and 17 and/or Part 2 of the ESA50 in particular. Any feedback on above would be greatly welcomed.