Getting support in your home

Help from Supporting People

You may be able to get support to help you live independently through the 'Supporting People' programme . Supporting People funding is available to help anyone in Northern Ireland who needs support to live in their accommodation. Supporting People funding is available to help:

older people,

people with learning difficulties,

people with physical disabilities,

people fleeing domestic violence,

young people leaving care,

people having difficulty keeping to the terms of their tenancy.

Your local Housing Executive District Office will have details of any Supporting People schemes in your area which could help you.

Will I have to pay for help from supporting people?

The Housing Executive will pay for the support services if you are currently receiving any housing benefit. If you are not currently receiving housing benefit you should submit an application. If you are entitled to any housing benefit - no matter how small - the Housing Executive will pay your support costs.

Other support

If you need help with daily tasks such as washing, cooking and cleaning, social services may have a legal responsibility to provide home care for you. If you are an older person or disabled, contact social services and ask them to carry out an assessment.

If you are unsure who to contact, telephone your local health and social care trust and ask for information on social services.

Overnight care

If you receive housing benefit or local housing allowance to help you with your housing costs and you, or your partner, requires overnight care you may be entitled to additional assistance. An additional room allowance was introduced in April 2011 for people who require overnight care in their home. To qualify for this additional allowance you will need to satisfy certain criteria, e.g. you are in receipt of qualifying benefits and can prove that someone who is not usually resident in your home must regularly stay overnight to provide care for you or your partner.