Who to contact when you are in hospital
Tell the hospital staff as soon as possible and ask them to contact the Housing Options Team at your local Council as soon as possible; ensuring that if you have a mobile phone the hospital staff pass this onto the Housing Options Team.
The hospital can complete a “duty to refer” form on your behalf if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
You can also contact Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s Housing Options Team by calling: 01303 853300 (Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm) or by Email: housing@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. You can obtain further information or complete an online form for assistance here: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/homeless/homelessness.
Requesting a Discharge Meeting
You can also ask the hospital to hold a Discharge Meeting nearer the time you are leaving and request that they contact your local Council’s Housing Options Team to ask them to attend the meeting.
I have a rented home - can I get help to pay my rent while I’m in hospital?
If you are on a low income or in receipt of benefits while you’re in hospital, you should be able to claim the housing element of Universal Credit or housing benefit so your rent can be paid while you’re in hospital.
These payments can continue for up to 52 weeks while you are in hospital. If, due to your medical condition, you’re advised that you’re not going to be able to return home sooner than the 52 weeks, your payments will be stopped. This will also happen if it becomes known that you will be absent from your home for considerably longer than 52 weeks. You should contact your local Council’s benefits team advise the DWP if you are in hospital for more than 24 hours via your online account here. If you need help, speak to the hospital social services department to ask them to refer you to a specialist agency like the Citizens Advice Bureau.
If you have a home but it’s unsuitable for you to return to
If you own or rent your home but since your medical treatment it’s no longer suitable for you, and does not enable you to live as independently as you would like, you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from your local Council.
The DFG is means tested based on your weekly income. If you are on a means tested benefit then there is no cost for the works. For more information on the Council’s policies around DFGs please visit: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/housing/disabled-facility-grants.
Applying to the Council’s Housing Register
If your home is unsuitable for you or if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, you may be eligible to join your local council’s housing register. If your local Council is in Kent, you can apply online through the Kent Homechoice website at: www.kenthomechoice.org.uk. Further information on joining Folkestone & Hythe’s housing register can be found here: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/housing/khc-social-affordable-housing. Please note that the demands for social housing via Councils’ housing registers is extremely high, and you are unlikely to be offered alternative accommodation quickly.
Looking for affordable private rented accommodation
This is likely to be your fastest solution to securing somewhere to live in the local area. Finances are often the biggest barrier so make sure you have followed the advice above and if you are still struggling you might need to look in more affordable areas of the country. For more information on the ways to secure private rented accommodation visit: https://www.kenthomechoice.org.uk/content/private-renting.