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Housing

Social and council housing

If you're living in social or council housing, one way to find a council or housing association house in another area is through mutual exchange.

You can also make a housing application directly to the housing association or local authority in the area you wish to move to. Priority may be given to local applicants who are in need of housing in the borough so you may have to wait a long time.

An option for people living in London and wanting to move elsewhere are the 'Lawn' and 'Seaside and Country Homes' housing mobility schemes. In order to register for the Seaside and Country Homes scheme you - or your partner, if you have one - must be at least 60 years old. There are no age restrictions for the Lawn scheme.

• Home exchange and mobility schemes (home and community section)

Disabled Facilities Grants

If the house you are moving to needs to be adapted to meet your needs, you should apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant from your new local council. An occupational therapist will come and do an assessment, so that you can know in advance whether you're eligible for a grant and whether the house is considered suitable for adaptation.

If your current home has already been adapted through a Disabled Facilities Grant, you may be able to take items like stair lifts or bath hoists with you when you move, if they would be suitable for your new home. Check with your local council for their particular rules about this. 

• Disabled Facilities Grants - introduction

Relocation grants

If you've applied for a Disabled Facilities Grant to make adaptations to your current home, and your local social services department has decided that your home is not suitable for adaptation, your local council may offer a relocation grant to help towards the cost of moving house.

Not all councils offer relocation grants. They may set their own individual maximum grant amounts and rules about who is eligible and whether you can use the grant to move out of the borough. It is best to speak to someone from social services before planning a move.

Your new local authority

Care and support services

If you receive any care or support services (including equipment) or direct payments to arrange your own care and services, you should contact the social services department at your existing local council and let them know you're moving.

Your local social services team should contact the social services department in your new borough. The new team will then set up the same support and services you have been receiving, on a short-term basis, so that there is no gap in your care and support services when you move.

Later, your new social services team will do their own health and social care assessment and decide what services and equipment you're entitled to, according to their own standards.

Different councils may have slightly different rules about this, so you may not receive exactly the same services in your new location.

If you move without telling social services, there may be a delay before you can receive any services from your new local council.   

• Health and social care assessments

Direct payments

If you're used to receiving direct payments, you may find that you receive a different amount after you move, as hourly rates for providing services may differ from council to council.

Charging policies can vary from council to council too, so you may find that you have to pay for a service you used to receive for free, or that a service you used to pay for is now free.

Moving to a new location, especially if the distance is far, may also mean you have to employ a new personal assistant.

• Employing a professional carer or personal assistant

Equipment

If you have any disability equipment in your home that is provided by your local council, this is usually on loan and you must return it when you move.

The more notice you give social services of your move, the sooner your new social services team will be able to provide replacement equipment.

Blue Badges, bus and community transport

The Blue Badge scheme operates throughout the UK. If you have a Blue Badge that entitles you to disabled parking benefits, you don't have to apply for a new Blue Badge when you move to a different area. You should contact your new local council about six weeks before your Blue Badge expires so they can issue a new one.

If you have a free bus pass where you live now, you should also qualify for a bus pass in the new location. Some councils also have other concessions for local residents. You can find out what the rules are from your new council.

Community transport can differ quite a lot from one council to another. You can find out from your new council what's available in the area you are moving to.

• The Blue Badge parking scheme
• Buses and bus passes

NHS Wheelchair Service wheelchairs

If you have received a wheelchair from the NHS Wheelchair Service, the wheelchair should go with you when you move. Depending on what type of agreement you have, the Wheelchair Service in your new area may take over the maintenance of your wheelchair.

• Wheelchairs - introduction

Financial support

Your benefits

If you receive Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, these will not be affected if you move house, unless you move into residential care (like a care home or hospice). You must tell your local Jobcentre about any change of address. For Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, you can also call the Disability Benefits Helpline.

• Find your local Jobcentre Plus office Opens new window
• Disability Benefits Helpline - for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance

Housing Benefit

If you cannot move into a new rented home straight away because you're waiting for it to be adapted to meet your needs, and your local council agrees that the delay is reasonable, you can get Housing Benefit towards your rent on the new property for up to four weeks before you move in. If you are still paying rent on your old home during this time, you can get Housing Benefit on both properties for those four weeks. This applies only if you qualify for Housing Benefit.

• Housing Benefit (money, tax and benefits section)

Leaving home to study in higher education

If you are leaving home to start college or university study, you may be able to get Disabled Students' Allowances and other financial help.

• Support at college or university

Local services in your new home

You can find out about many public services in your local area, including schools and health services, from Directgov. In many cases, you can also apply online for services, entitlements and grants.

• Find local services in your area