Is there help or housing for physically disabled adults in the U.K.?

I'm a passport-carrying citizen who has been abroad for many years and am returning to the UK in December physically handicapped (with a frame and poor health) after a car accident three years ago.

I've no family or friends who can (or will) help when I return to the UK and I have no clue what to do as a (now) disabled person arriving with no idea where to stay, what offices to call, how to apply for a disability allowance, or what have you. I don't even know if I could get aboard trains, etc.

I've looked online for the past year for any information regarding temporary housing or organisations who assist the disabled, and have found nothing.

People on Answers seem to know everything, so let's hear it ;-)

I'm over 25, and under 50 years of age.

All isn't lost, although help for people with disabilities in no longer a government priority and hasn't been for a long while now.

Do you know what area you are going to in the UK?

The first thing you need to do is contact the local council of the area you plan to go to. Say for example that you decide to move to Nottinghamshire. There are two councils you will need to contact - Nottingham City Council (if you plan to live in the City of Nottingham or very close to it) or Nittinghamshire County Council (if you plan to live elsewhere in the county of Nottinghamshire) - and each has 2 departments you need to contact immediately to start getting the ball rolling.

1: The Social Services Department
2: The Housing Department

Social Services should be your first port of call. Try Emailing them. If you can, try to arrange a date and time and a direct telephone number for you to call someone there - or they may even agree to call you. Explain your situation in detail. They will probably assign a social worker to deal with your case.

Each council will have a housing department and you need to be put on to their housing list. Again, explain the situation in detail, emphasising the fact that you will be coming to the UK and that you have no place to stay yet. This should give you some priority on the housing list.

Next, you need to contact Jobcentre Plus

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/inde...

Here you need to start making a claim for disability benefit. They may require you to send copies of medical records and ask you to see a doctor who can correspond with the people at Jobcentre Plus. They may also be able to strengthen your claim to get priority housing.

For all of these places, ask for links or addresses to charities that help people with physical disabilities. At all times, make it clear that you are a UK citizen living abroad at the moment. Make sure you have copies of all documents and records pertaining to your disability, as they may want you to mail them copies of these.

I hope this is helpful and yields some positive results.

Disability Alliance helps with benefits and could be a good starting point www.disabilityalliance.org or Disability UK www.disabilityuk.com.
Good luck in getting the help you need

Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau, they will point you in the right direction for all kinds of help. Since a recent change in the law, access for the disabled has improved in the UK, and there is dedicated council housing to accommodate those with disabilities. Have a look on the CAB website and see what they can do to help. Good luck.

Hi Genx,
Sorry to hear about your poor health due to a car accident. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be for you.

I've had a quick scan online and your best bet is probably to use this website :
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeop...

That gives you details about public services for disabled people, details of benefits, etc. Hope that helps. If not, may be its worth e-mailing them or calling them for more assistance.

Hope this helps,
Best of luck,

Please inform us how you got on

You'll want the Housing and Benefits sections of the local Council. Most councils have websites, so look on the net for something like ______city.gov.uk or ______shire.gov.uk. Use that to get information on your particular destination and the advocacy groups others have listed to fill in the gaps.

The trains are accessible. My concern with the train would be managing luggage with a frame. Can someone travel across with you to help with that sort of thing?

my dad had a really nice flat and in his words "more money than he knew what to do with".He lived very frugally and was worried sick he was being overpaid benefits.
Sorry I can't offer any practical help.....other than if you need a lift from the airport?