How Can I Get Housing Points For Medical Reasons?

There are many factors that contribute towards giving priority to certain individuals over others when it comes to being allotted priority for council housing. Through this article, we will focus mainly on how applicants can get housing for medical reasons so that their ranking increases in the priority list for council housing. Additionally, we will also discuss how a higher band is allotted within the medical grounds category for council housing, how a letter of support can help applicants and what is the basic criteria for priority with regards to council housing allotment.

How Can I Get Housing Points For Medical Reasons?

The table below illustrates how points are awarded on medical grounds for council housing:

Medical reason	Points for council housing
The applicant has basic functionality needs such as assistance with walking or climbing stairs.	32 points
The current housing conditions of the applicant are not suitable enough to meet their medical needs.	10 points
Support and care needs for those applicants who require sheltered or supported housing	30 points
Requirments for home management	14 points
Applicants with self-care requirements	16 points
Applicants with social need factors	40 points
Applicants with complex needs	20 points
Underoccupation of transfer applicants	10 points

If you think that you qualify for housing due to medical reasons, you should fill out the medical section of the council housing application form in as much detail as possible and provide documentative evidence to support your claim.

Once your application reaches the council authorities, they will assess and revert to you with a detailed questionnaire inquiring about your medical details. You must share all relevant information through this document and send it back to council authorities within 21 days. You may also add a letter of priority signed by a GP.

During the time of your medical assessment, you will not be able to able to bid on any council property so that the council can suggest a more suitable accommodation to meet your health needs.

If you face any of the following circumstances, you must fill out a medical assessment form for council housing:

Even though you are not living in an overcrowded house, your current housing is unsuitable regarding your medical needs and your housing conditions actively contribute to your ill health

Your medical condition or housing situations are severe enough to qualify you for Band 1 for council housing on medical grounds. According to the Housing Allocation Scheme, this includes “a property that has severe damp, major structural defects including subsidence, flooding, the collapse of the roof, or have living conditions which are a statutory nuisance, and there is no prospect of the problems being remedied within a 6 month time period”.

You have specific requirements such as a ground floor, lifted property or one that caters to limited mobility needs. This means that your medical condition will affect the type of property you will need to be offered to ensure that caters ot your medical needs

Who Gets Band 1 Priority For Council Housing For Medical Reasons?

Claimants who have applied for council housing accommodation on medical grounds may be assigned different bands according to the severity of their medical conditions. Based on this classification, some individuals may be assigned a higher band, which gives them a higher position on the priority list for council housing.

These include the following reasons:

The applicant’s condition is expected to be terminal within a period of twelve months; therefore, re-housing is required to provide suitable care.

The applicant’s condition is life-threatening with their current housing conditions being a major contributory factor.

The applicant’s health is gravely impacted by their living conditions that can potentially lead to becoming life-threatening.

The applicant’s current living conditions are directly contributing to ill health. This may include severe chest conditions that require intermittent hospitalisation. The reason may include chronic dampness in the premises and cannot be resolved within a reasonable period of time (usually 6 months).

The applicant is at risk of life-threatening infection due to overcrowding in the property.

Can a Letter Of Support Help In Housing Points For Medical Reasons?

A letter of support is usually written by doctors to help those claimants of council housing who file an application on medical grounds. The purpose of such a letter is to state the claimant’s health challenges in their current residence; which may be life-threatening in some cases. With the support of such recommendations, claimant’s are expected to get a higher priority band for council housing so that their living conditions may be improved.

There are times when the applicant prepares the draft on their own and shares it with the person of authority who may make amendments to the draft prior to penning down a signature.

The letter should start with the intent or purpose of the communication; stating how the benefit to be claimed by an applicant is going to have a positive impact on their lives.

This can be followed by details regarding the applicant’s condition, the negative impact on it due to their current housing arrangements and the improvements expected due to better living conditions.

Following are some of the essential parts of a letter of support:

name of applicant
name of author
relationship between the applicant and author
duration of the relationship between the applicant and author
background of applicant’s condition
impact of support on applicant’s condition
essential aspects of housing that the applicant requires (in case of a disability)

How Can I Get A Council House On Medical Grounds?

Depending on the severity of the medical issues being faced by an applicant or their family member, the council housing application may be given priority over others.

If you or a family member are faced with a medical condition that is being worsened due to the house you currently live in or the medical condition is a disability and your current house does cannot provide for disability needs (despite possible modifications) you should apply for council housing. Depending on the severity of the condition, you will be allotted a band to indicate your position on the priority list for council housing.

In case of a non-serious medium-range medical condition, you will be awarded a Band 3 while serious conditions elevate the applicant to Band 1. In case of community work done by the applicant or their family members, a Band 2 might be assigned by the council; however, there is no confirmation on the allotment unless an application is filed along with supportive evidence.

Serious medical conditions that qualify for a Band 1 allotment for council housing include the following:

the applicant’s condition is expected to be terminal within twelve months and they need re-housing for appropriate care
the applicant’s current place of residence is contributing to their life-threatening condition and it cannot be resolved within a short period of time (or at all)
the applicant is living in an overcrowded property due to which, risk of life-threatening infection is high
they are housebound due to a lack of wheelchair access in the house
they can not be released from hospital in their current home due to lack of required amenities

It is essential to submit a Medical assessment form along with other supportive documents (as per the guidance of your local council) when you apply for council housing on medical grounds.

How Can I Get Council House If I Have A Disabled Child?

Not only will you qualify for council housing if you have a disabled child but you will be put on priority so that you may receive council housing at the earliest possible.

However, not everyone who has a child facing disabilities will be looking for a council house. Depending on the needs of their child, they may make modifications to their existing home and claim state benefits such as Disability Living Allowance.

It is in cases where the parents’ previous home becomes unsuitable for a child with disabilities or they can no longer afford it due to reduced income (in case one of the parents had to leave their job to tend to their child), would they be in need for council housing.

In addition to council housing, you will also be eligible for the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to tend to your child’s care and mobility needs. DLA is a monthly allowance paid directly into your account to tend to the needs of your disabled child. Depending on the extent of care and their individual requirements, claimants may receive anything between £23 to £89 for the Care Component and between £23 to £65 for the mobility Component.

Conclusion:

Through this blog post, we have come to learn of the various situations that increase the housing points of applicants who have applied for council housing on medical grounds. However, applicants must assure that in addition to providing all factual details in their medical assessment form, they are also able to provide the authorities with sufficient documentation that supports their claim. A letter of support from your local GP can be of much help in terms of sharing details of your medical condition and serving as sound evidence of your claim.

FAQs: How Can I Get Housing Points For Medical Reasons?

How can I get medical points for housing?

Claimants of council housing on medical grounds can get medical points on the basis of the severity of their condition and the degree of impact that their current living conditions bear on their health. Details are filled by them in a medical assessment form which is then followed by the visit of a Housing Medical Officer to confirm their claim.

What is the medical priority for housing?

Medical priority for housing means that the current living conditions of an applicant 9or their family member) are worsening their health conditions and by moving into an appropriate council housing facility, their health can significantly improve.

What makes you a priority for council housing?

Being a priority for council housing on medical grounds primarily includes the applicant’s condition being terminal, their current place of residence is contributing to their life-threatening condition, the applicant is living in an overcrowded property due to which or risk of life-threatening infection is high.

Can your GP help with housing?

Yes, your GP can help with housing especially if your application is based on medical grounds. Your GP can write a letter of support in your favour so that you are given priority for council housing and verify the medical details shared by you in your medical assessment form.

How long does housing medical assessment take?

Based on general practice, it is estimated that it takes around 15 weeks for your council housing medical assessment to be complete and for the council to get back to you with their decision.