Please help

[tezza1234]

Ok i am not sure where this belongs exactly so if it needs moving, please do. This is rather long widned but i will keep as short as possible.

 

my family (wife and 2 kids, both boys, 6+2 years old) have lived in a HA property since 2010, it is a 2 bed flat, no outside space.

 

 

 

my eldest (6) is currently undergoing diagnosis for dispraxia, suspected autism, asd, adhd, you name it.

He has always been 'different' for want of a better word, and we put it down to a lot of things

and were never told any different, such as, just being different, anxious, nervous etc....

 

 

the last 8 months things have really escalated to the point my childs school has now asked the GP for a referal to a Paed,

we saw a massive difference, told the school, and after observation they agree.

 

 

with this in mind, i want to be put back on the housing bidding list (we can't get an exchange, have been trying for years)

and the LA are just saying no, sorry, because he has not officially actually been diagnosed with anything as yet,

 

 

my argument is, diagnosis can take 2+ years and he is really being affected now,

this flat is so hot we have to have 4 fans running 24/7, 365 days a year, even when it snows.

 

Now my eldest is not a good sleeper at all, never has been,

this is now starting to affect the younger one (2) as they share a bedroom, and that can't be fair,

also, baring in mind his mood changes and struggles vary day to day,

 

 

it is important for autistic people to have there own space, somewhere they can take themselves to, to unwind if stressed or angry,

he has none of this, no own bedroom, no garden, nothing.

Do we have any legal rights to ask to be placed back on the bidding list due to his health.

 

Also, with this in mind, is it worth applying for DLA or something,

i know this is a bit shady and i have no idea of how it actually works apart

from it is not based on any given actual diagnosis for any condition.

 

We live in a part of the country where private renting is just not an option, plus we have some rent arrears with our LA

so i am worried that if i push to hard they will start eviction process,

 

 

now bare in mind 4 years ago we had more than 7k worth of priority debt arrears in the form of council tax arrears

, overpayment arrears and rent arrears and now the only arrears we have is rent arrears of

just under £500 which is due to be paid back in full by june 2016.

 

I just feel stuck and lost, what can i do. My little man is really struggling

and i know it is a long hard road ahead, but i must be able to do something.

 

Thanks

[Nystagmite]

To get DLA, your son must have care and /or mobility needs in excess of a child his own age. Whilst a diagnosis doesn't matter, from experience, they tend to take you more seriously. You need evidence to back up your claim.

 

Because of your childrens ages, you're only entitled to 2 bedrooms and I can't see the LA placing you on the housing list if you've already got somewhere to live.

[Haven]

Hi

 

You may find the diagnosis doesnt take 2 years. My son has recently been diagnosed with ADD and that took around 12 months but was delayed as we had found out other issues around my son which effected the diagnosis. Ensure he is getting supported at school with a SENCO, individual education plan and a individual behavior plan which should be reassessed each term. Read as much as you can about the issues your son faces and how you can support him. The internet is full of good advice and even lots of facebook groups that will point you in the right direction. No harm in applying for DLA as no diagnosis is needed and it might help you with obtaining more suitable housing. I fully understand how you feel, it is a very daunting and emotional time and even tho we have got a diagnosis we still face issues and like you have always felt my little boy was 'different'. Need anything else then send me a message x

[tezza1234]

To get DLA, your son must have care and /or mobility needs in excess of a child his own age. Whilst a diagnosis doesn't matter, from experience, they tend to take you more seriously. You need evidence to back up your claim.

 

Because of your childrens ages, you're only entitled to 2 bedrooms and I can't see the LA placing you on the housing list if you've already got somewhere to live.

 

So if/when he is diagnosed with autism, would he not be entitled to his own bedroom then, or suitable outside space.

[mmfhater]

I went throu similarly to you with my son as we believe he is in the autistic spectrum

We got higher rate dla with lower mobility

I was in a 2 bed flat with a 7 year old daughert and my son who was 3 we got letters from doctors , the hospital ect

He couldn't play outside without supervision as he had no scence of danger and with him sharing a room it wasn't helping his sister as he kept waking her up and it was effecting her school work ect

Eventually we got put on gold band and now have a 3 bed house with secure garden and my daughter is doing a 100 times better at school

 

You have to keep pushing the council and once you have the letters you need to sit down and talk with your housing officer

[tezza1234]

Hi

 

You may find the diagnosis doesnt take 2 years. My son has recently been diagnosed with ADD and that took around 12 months but was delayed as we had found out other issues around my son which effected the diagnosis. Ensure he is getting supported at school with a SENCO, individual education plan and a individual behavior plan which should be reassessed each term. Read as much as you can about the issues your son faces and how you can support him. The internet is full of good advice and even lots of facebook groups that will point you in the right direction. No harm in applying for DLA as no diagnosis is needed and it might help you with obtaining more suitable housing. I fully understand how you feel, it is a very daunting and emotional time and even tho we have got a diagnosis we still face issues and like you have always felt my little boy was 'different'. Need anything else then send me a message x

 

Thank you, yes SENCO is involved as is LIFT, was origonally reffered to occupational theropy but then school and us felt it needed to be escalated to paediatrician due to his getting worse, it is only now, he is 6 that massive and obvious differences between him and his classmates are obvious, its not any 1 thing, its lots of things, even he is asking why he is different to his friends

[Nystagmite]

So if/when he is diagnosed with autism, would he not be entitled to his own bedroom then, or suitable outside space.

 

You'd have to speak to the LA. But just having a diagnosis of Austim wouldn't entitle him to his own room.

[tezza1234]

I went throu similarly to you with my son as we believe he is in the autistic spectrum

We got higher rate dla with lower mobility

I was in a 2 bed flat with a 7 year old daughert and my son who was 3 we got letters from doctors , the hospital ect

He couldn't play outside without supervision as he had no scence of danger and with him sharing a room it wasn't helping his sister as he kept waking her up and it was effecting her school work ect

Eventually we got put on gold band and now have a 3 bed house with secure garden and my daughter is doing a 100 times better at school

 

You have to keep pushing the council and once you have the letters you need to sit down and talk with your housing officer

 

Thank you, did you get dla before any diagnosis, Ok so my next step is getting letters from his school, doctors, hospital etc... my son has no outside space to play, which we feel is hampering him, but yes, also, when we do go to open spaces, he is not aware of dangers. My housing officer lol, in 5 years i have sent her 15 emails, she has responded to 1.

[mmfhater]

Yes we get dla even thou He has still not been fully diagnosed

They just keep saying he is somewhere on the autistic spectrum

 

Sorry I see you said you were in a HA flat not council

 

Once you got letters ect go to the council sit down with them and explain everything they in turn may put pressure on your HA to re house you