Westminster Housing: Is it fair to award Mobility 3 Category to healthy people on Cash Incentive Scheme?

[BlueLittleLady]

Hi everyone.

 

First of all apologies if I am posting in the wrong place, this was the most appropriate one I could find. Please move it if there is a more appropriate location for it.

 

 

Here is the situation:

 

I have a serious medical condition, I live in a fourth floor Westminster Council flat without a lift, and steep stairs. For me, stairs are impossible. Access to full time water is not available - apparently to fix that would be "an improvement" and not "a repair", which means I have to fund it myself, which I can't afford. All my furniture is adapted, however equipment adaptations (i.e. kitchen worktops, sinks, shower, etc) aren't possible apparently because I have applied for rehousing. I can't access the bathtub or the kitchen sink. I rely on others helping me with basic groceries shopping, helping with strip/sponge wash and using the kitchen. These are just some of the issues - the list goes on.

 

Westminster Council has placed me on rehousing waiting list, awarding me Mobility Category 3, with 200 points.

 

 

Here's the problem:

 

Those who are downsizing social housing, let's say from 2 bedrooms to 1 bedroom, are placed in Cash-Incentive scheme and are automatically awarded Mobility 3 (irrelevant as to whether they are healthy or not), and are awarded the maximum number of points which is 550. Ref: See section 3.1.5, page 39 of this Westminster Council document I have also verified this by phone, and it is correct as of today.

 

It is easy to understand that we are short of social housing and that this frees up 2 or more bedroom flats. However, this places 1 bed flats in more demand. So where does this put a person like me who is only able to bid for properties under Mobility 3 category due to stairs difficulties, but those properties being swept away by healthy people placed in Mobility 3 category just because they have been luckier in life to obtain large properties. The number of 1 bed/studio properties advertised for bidding under Mobility Category 3 are rare and few as it is, so with healthy people being able to take them on the grounds of downsizing, this means a disabled person like me has no chance. Does this not become disability discrimination?

 

On top of everything, Tollgate Gardens demolition means that bidding is heavily restricted due to the decants need of rehousing and decants with Mobility 3 also get 400-450 points, whereas I get 200 points, which means they override me in the waiting list. I do emphasise with the decant situation, but having healthy people under Cash-Incentive scheme being prioritised over those who have a genuine medical need is both, insensitive and negligent, I think. I am feeling more disabled than I should simply because my living circumstances are so unsuitable for me and it just seems that I can't get around it, which is really depressing.

 

My Social Services case worker also looked into making a rehousing recommendation under the Social Services Nomination, which would speed up my process as it would grant me 400 points (see page 25). However, Housing informed her that Social Services referring me to housing will not increase my points in any way and there is no advantage with the case worker doing a referral. (Please note: Westminster Housing has on numerous occasions misinformed me providing me misleading information, which I have on record, and what they say may or may not be true.)

 

I am further of an opinion that the council is not as "transparent" as they claim to be. This week a Mobility 3 studio flat went on the PDF advert, which is publicly advertised (see page 5). However, when I logged in to bid on it, it had mysteriously disappeared and it was not available on the system. I phoned the council to inquire about this, but I do not believe I have received a straight answer. The point of the story is, what is publicly displayed, may not necessarily be true.

 

Anyways, enough of my ramblings. What do you think about this situation? Any tips, ideas? Anyone else has been in a similar situation? Any advice on how to improve my situation? I have literally been thinking to withdraw my application for rehousing as it doesn't seem to be fair or possible, so at least if I withdraw it I would get some equipment adaptations made (although not a lift or a shower LOL)... But on the other hand, that would not solve my long term issues. I feel really stuck

 

Any help and advice is most welcome!

Edited August 14, 2013 by BlueLittleLady

[citizenB]

This does seem very unfair indeed. Those who advise in this area will almost certainly look in on you later today

[BlueLittleLady]

Thank you very much!

 

General note: Also, I tried to reference and supply evidence with this, and I have read through the referenced docs many times over. But I am still human, so if you feel I might have misunderstood something, please do kindly let me know, as this is most important to me. I'm happy to make inquiries and try and verify everything.