Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group HOUSING

Hi
My name is Karen and I have posted a few posts before,just had to talk or write as I feel pretty peeved and need some advice.
I have AS,and have it pretty bad at the moment,my husband looks after me and our kids,he had to give up work to look after us,we live in private accomodation which we can no longer afford,the lease runs out November 13th and we cannot afford to renew it,the council have awarded us with 32 medical points,which they have said is pretty good and we will be at the top of the list but all they are going to offer is a flat in a tenement block the areas they are offering are quite rough,we have lived in these areas before and the kids got bullied and neighbours were a nightmare so we are none to keen to move back into these areas again.I cannot walk properly due to being stooped over quite a bit which means I cannot get up and down stairs,this is why they are offering us a flat,we really would like a semi with a garden so I could let my kids out to play without having to worry about them all the time, I would make any adaptions needed to the house ourselves,if I am going to move to a house we would rather it be a semi as we are going to be there for years to come.I don't know what to do,I have been told to see my local councillor which we will do on Monday and go back to see my doctors to see if she can help and also see my O.T,we have all these points we are just not willing to take rubbish areas.
What do you all think?
I start a NASS group on Monday night doing the gym and hydro therapy so I am looking forward to it,meeting others with AS.
If any one has advice please tell me,I don't know if we have to accept what the council offer us.
Thanks in advance
God bless you all
Karen

Hi Karen,

The council are probably trying to push their luck in the hope that someone will accept this area.

Whilst I'm not sure about the points you mention (different area.etc.etc) the vibe you give is that you should be somewhere better than this, so push for this at your meeting next week, and get back to your OT about it too - she will back your case all the way.

Don't agree to ANYTHING in the meantime, and don't let the deadline make you agree to anything that wouldn't be acceptable to you. With your OT and Doc on board, I'm sure the council will trump up the goods. Bring it up at the NASS meeting on Monday, you'll probably find others have been throught the same charade.

Stick to your guns girl!!

(and keep us posted!!)

Take care,

Jan

Hi jan
Thanks I will keep you posted
God bless
Karen

Karen,

I hate to hear that your daily life is so hard. Just when I start to feel so sorry for myself. I really can't offer any advice since I'm not really sure how all that works in your country. But just wanted to let you know that I feel for you and you are in my thoughts and will be in my prayers. You are very lucky to have such an understanding husband. I know mine could learn a thing or two from yours. It is very hard to live with someone with a chronic illness and I give him all the credit in the world for taking care of you like he is. I'm so glad you have your three beautiful children to bring you joy. I can speak from experience about that. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my kids to take my mind off of my physical pain and limitations. They really help me focus on them and make me smile and laugh and keep busy and remember what life is worth living for when I sometimes want to give up on myself. I wish you the best of luck in your housing situation. Take care sweetie!!

Debster

Hi Karen.

Very sorry to hear about your problems.

I think this is one for your local councillor or even better why don't you drop your local Member of Parliment an E-Mail and appraise him as to your predictiment, I'm sure he/she would make the Housing Department sit up and take notice of your problems.

It shouldn't be to hard to track down your MP's E-Mail address, just put Member of Parliment into your search engine and go.

I hope this is of some use to you and things will get better in the future


Take care
Ken

Hi Karen try the MP Dorothy Grace Elder she is trying to help people with chronhic pain.Council have to give you three offers,so dont accept the first one.Is the house you live in suitable for your needs,if so the Social might be able to come up with the increase in the rent,LUV from another Glaswegian Elspeth.

Hi All
Thanks very much for your advice and support, I love this room, good to know I have friends I can come to and talk to
God bless you all
Karen

Hi Karen

I was in a similar position to you a couple of years ago. I lived in tied accommodation on a farm just before I was diagnosed with AS, so when the back troubles really kicked in, I had to leave my job on the Drs advice (diagnosed with a slipped disc to begin with!) so was given extra points by the local authority for housing.

The only trouble is, if you turn an offer down, certain associations in the UK make penalties if you don't have a good enough reason. We turned down a house a couple of years before , we were used to living in the country in a fairly big garden, then were offered a flat with no garden, then a terraced house with a small garden. We turned down both and were kicked off the list for 12 months.

What may help you, is if you say that you can't possibly accept a flat, as there is no way you could possibly walk up and down sets of stairs with AS. If you turn down a house because you don't like the area, they wont see this as being an acceptable reason and may penalise you.

In the south east of england where I live now (im from Scotland originally) you are allowed to choose certain areas as your first choices, is it possible for you to do this and leave out the areas you wouldnt want to live in ?

You need to seek advice with rgards to housing benefit . If you or your husband are not working and your claiming income support, you should be entitled to 100% rent allowance so you may be able to stay where you are.

Daz

Hi Daz
In regards to the house I am in,I cannot get up and down stairs so we had to move our bedroom downstairs, bathroom is up-stairs too.
O.T told the council I need a house or bungalow all level,so I am going back to see my doctor and see my local MP and get in contact with my O.T. Just now I cannot walk properly which limits me to the house,here we have a garden,so my husband helps me outside so I can sit in my chair.We are on Family Tax Credit and have been told we have to wait till that runs out till we claim for Income Support,we don't get housing benefit either,the rent on this place is £600 a month,when we first moved here we had it all planned,we would both work,but it has not worked out like that.
I am limited in a lot of things, pain and mobility are very bad at the moment.
My husband and kids are a Godsend they all keep me going,without them I would have gave up.
You are all a great support to me and I thank every one of you
Will keep you posted
God bless Karen