UK - Planned changes to Housing Benefit likely to affect bipolar sufferers

From January 2012, the UK government plans to raise the minimum age for claiming housing benefit for a one-bedroom flat, from 25 to 35. This means that many people with bipolar disorder, will suffer severe disruption to their lives.

The reduction in benefits will mean that people who currently live in self-contained accommodation, will be paid the rate of housing benefit designed for people who rent a room in shared houses. Many people will be unable to afford not to move.

The changes will affect most single people who live alone and claim housing benefit. The changes do not appear to affect claimants of the DLA (Disability Living Allowance) care component at the middle or higher rate. This means that the people most severely affected by bipolar disorder may not have to move, but many others will do.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are easily exacerbated by stress. Being forced, not just to move house, but to find new people to live with, will have a profound negative effect on vast numbers of people with mental health problems.

Even once the trauma of moving home has passed, shared accommodation will not suit many people with mental health problems. Although most people with bipolar disorder will comfortably adapt to new housemates, others will find that losing their independence has a profound negative impact on their wellbeing.

Being able to live in self-contained accommodation gives people with bipolar disorder a chance to build self-confidence. This has a knock on effect on other areas of their life, and can be an important milestone in helping disabled people achieve other things, such as returning to full time employment.

In some cases, suffering from severe mood swings can put a substantial strain on interpersonal relationships, making house share situations difficult to maintain.

These government plans are irresponsible and do not offer people with mental health problems the protection that they need. People with bipolar disorder have special needs which do not appear to have been adequately addressed in this decision.

To find out more about the impact that these changes will have on vulnerable members of society, see the Crisis Campaign on the Shared Accommodation Rate.