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Housing support for people with Asperger?

zone_tripper

I have bad anxiety and paranoia issues.  My father says that I think up a non-existent problem and then spend my time worrying about something before it has even happened!  I fear the worst, in other words. 

A few years ago, I finally had money to be able to rent a flat and move out of my parents home.  Within a matter of days, I started suffering from home sickness.  Due to worsening depression, anxiety, home sickness, and a fear of being made homeless, I moved back into my parents home.  My parents own their own home and do not have a mortgage (having paid it off in 1996).  So I call my parents home, my comfort blanket. 

My parents are elderly (almost 70 and 66).  However, I was hoping to be able to look after them myself if they need help with day to day living.  But they may have to go into a care home one day and my sister and I may be forced to sell their house, which will mean I will have to look for a new home. 

Things are being made worse by the current Government changing rules regarding social housing, etc. 

I would like to know what experiences other people with Asperger Syndrome have had regarding housing support and housing issues?

Here are a few queries of my own...

  • As I have been formally diagnosed with Asperger, and as I suffer from depression, anxiety, paranoia, etc, would I be treated as a disabled and/or vulnerable person and be given priority for social housing?
  • Could my local County Council and/or Borough Council force me to sell my parents home to pay for care costs?  Or would they consider me as a disabled and/or vulnerable person and therefore unable to force me to sell their home?
  • What are the experiences of other Aspergers and Autistic people in relation to finding a place to live, finding suppport, getting social housing, whether or not you have had to sell your parents home to pay for their care, etc? 

  • I think these are, sadly, all too common worries for people dealing with autism.

    I did live independently, albeit with an extensive support package, but the 'experiment' went awry after an incident ar my flat. I am now  back with my parents, but there is pressure for me to move back into my own accomodation, which is still my official address. I will need to move back out in the near future, but I struggle greatly with change, and I am putting off the inevitable. Housing services are fully aware of my condition and circumstances and they are trying to help me move forward.

    I cannot move out of my home town, which limits my options, and feel safest in my family home, where I have lived most of my life.

    My parents are 68 and 60 years old, so they are approaching old age, and I do worry about the future. My hope is that I will inherit their house, but this won't be possible if they need to go into care. I know that my parents would like me to inherit their house because they care about my security, and they don't want me to have to rely on insecure social housing, which is vulnerable to the vagaries of Government policy.

  • Hi, I am the mother of a 23 year old with high functioning Aspergers. She has a responsible job, but term time only, so really low paid. I really want her to make a move towards independence, for her own sake. I believe that she could live away from home, but she would not want to be seen as different.  I can help her with the practicaclities of bills, paperwork etc. but I cannot help financially. Can we get help with housing benefit for her to rent privately, and who should I approach? I am at a loss to know how I can help her to move on, now that she is no longer a child, and knowing that I will not always be here. She would not want her employer to know that she has been diagnosed with Aspergers.

  • Hello zone tripper.

    Sorry to hear about the worries you've been having. I am sure that between us we'll be able to help you find the answers to your questions.

    Here is some general information about housing for adults across the spectrum:

    http://community.autism.org.uk/discussions/health-wellbeing/living-spectrum/housing-support-people-asperger

    It might be a good idea for you to go through your individual situation and circumstances with someone who understands all of this very well and get the best advice. Here is a link to our services:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/advice-and-information-services.aspx

    There is information there about the Community Care Service who can advise you about housing options and getting help from Social Services, and also the Welfare Rights Service who will advise you about what benefits and help you are entitled to. You can contact them either by phone or email - details all in the link. If you're not sure which to ask for first, just contact the Autism Helpline and they'll put you through to whoever is best able to help. Details here:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/advice-and-information-services/autism-helpline.aspx

    Good luck - I hope you get it all sorted out.

    Sandra - mod