Disability Allowance cant manage on it

Gilally

My neighbour had a stroke several years ago and is completely paralysed and has a brain injury as a result of the stroke affecting speech, mental capacity etc.
She told me she is finding it increasingly hard to manage on the 188 euro per week she gets from disability allowance. She is married but her husband does not live with her as he is an alcoholic. Her rent per week is 30 euro by the time she gets groceries, pays heat, electricity and phone there is nothing left at the end of the week. She needs to make repairs on the house that council will no longer cover and she just does not have the money. An occupational therapist was out and visited her recently and made several recommendations that need to be done in order to help her move around the house but she doesn't have the money and the council say they are not funding anymore houses under the disability grant. Is there anywhere she can turn to?

Balagan

Don't know her finances in detail, but she may possibly qualify for the Household Benefit Package http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/extra_social_welfare_benefits/household_benefits_package.html

Why is the council refusing to maintain the house she lives in? Perhaps she had been offered a different place and didn't take it? The council may reduce her rent on the basis of hardship.

With regards to the local authority saying they have no money to give her the
Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/housing_grants_and_schemes/housing_adaptation_grant_for_people_with_disability.html, their refusal should be followed up and obtained in writing. If there is no reason for the refusal other than lack of funding, then the local TD should be contacted.

Gilally

Thanks for replying I will look into the disability grant. She does not qualify for household benefit package as her ex husband is still using her home as his full time address and we are having trouble changing that.