Policy
Entitlement
Background
Business Rules
Appealing Decisions or Actions
Policy
Clients who have met the normal eligibility criteria for public housing may be approved for housing assistance as an elderly client if they are:
- Aged 80 years and over, or
- Confirmed to be an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander and aged 55 years and over.
Elderly clients will have to demonstrate that they are able to meet the obligations of their tenancy, with or without support. More information about the requirements for sustaining a successful tenancy can be obtained under 'Ability to Sustain a Successful Tenancy' in the policy Eligibility for Public Housing (ALL0030A).
Elderly clients are placed on the Housing Register and will be offered suitable accommodation ahead of wait-turn applicants as it becomes available.
Where there are other household members included on an elderly client’s application (other than the elderly person’s partner) or an elderly person is included in an application with other family members, they will be eligible for this assistance provided that:
- The elderly person is totally dependent on the other members of the household for 24 hour care, and
- They provide documentation from a doctor or other healthcare professionals to support the application.
For more information on this policy, look in Entitlement, Background and Business Rules.
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Entitlement
Eligible elderly clients are entitled to:
- Accelerated progression on the Housing Register for appropriate public or community managed housing
- A 10 year fixed term if they are a new tenant
- Have their housing options explained clearly
- Be treated with fairness and equity.
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Background
The Department acknowledges the special needs of elderly clients and their households and the need to deliver services that are culturally appropriate.
It is widely recognised that the Aboriginal community suffer greater levels of ill health and have considerably shorter life expectancies then the general population. The average life span of an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander is approximately 20 years less than non- Aboriginal people. To reflect this, the age eligibility for Aboriginal applicants for the elderly clients policy is 55 years of age and over.
This policy aims to reduce waiting times for all eligible elderly clients and settle them into appropriate housing as soon as possible.
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Business Rules
Proof of Age and Aboriginality
Clients seeking housing as elderly clients, must provide the following proof of age:
- Birth certificate, or
- Passport, or
- If the client is an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander, and none of the above are available, a written estimate of age as recognised by an incorporated Aboriginal organisation or Land Council.
Elderly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients must also provide documents that confirm their Aboriginality, including:
- An Aboriginal Housing Office Declaration (DH3020) endorsed by the client’s Land Council.
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Ability to Sustain a Successful Tenancy
To be eligible for public housing, the applicant must be able to sustain a successful tenancy. This means that they must be able to meet the obligations of their tenancy, with or without support. When determining whether public housing is the most appropriate housing option for an applicant, the Department considers whether the applicant is able to:
- Pay their rent
- Look after the property
- Not create a nuisance and annoyance to their neighbours
- Live independently with, or without, support
- Live in the property on an ongoing basis.
Where the applicant needs support, they must show that they have access to appropriate support services. The Department does not provide health related support services. However, staff will make referrals to other agencies in situations where the applicant has not accessed available support services.
For more information about a person’s ability to live independently see 'Ability to Sustain a Successful Tenancy' in the policy Eligibility for Public Housing (ALL0030A).
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Allocations
The Department will allocate a suitable property which meets the elderly client’s needs including:
- Access to medical and other relevant services
- Ease of access and mobility
- Safety and security.
Applicants may also be nominated for offers of accommodation managed by community housing providers. Any such offer will also aim to meet the needs of elderly clients.
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Type of Dwelling
The Department has a range of dwellings which can be allocated to elderly clients. These include dwellings with special features such as modifications and ground floor access. The type of dwelling which best matches the client’s needs will be determined by the Department and depends on:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants may be eligible for an additional bedroom. See the policy on Aboriginal People and Housing Assistance (ALL0030B).
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Clients with Medical or Disability Needs
Clients with medical or disability needs may be entitled to an extra bedroom or a modified dwelling. They must provide documentation from their doctor or another health professional explaining their needs. Clients with a disability may also be entitled to apply for Disability Rental Subsidy. See the policy on Special Assistance Subsidy - Disability (SAS0100B).
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Specifying Particular Needs
Clients can specify the features they need in a property, including the need for a property which is:
- On the ground floor
- Modified for clients with a disability, or
- Allows ease of mobility both internally (for example, no stairs inside the dwelling) and externally (for example, access or entry to the dwelling is not on a steep hill).
The Department may ask the client to provide appropriate documentation to support their request. This may include a statement from their doctor or other health provider such as a social worker, occupational therapist, community health worker or home service provider (such as Home Care).
If these properties are in limited supply, they will only be offered to clients with a demonstrated need for them. See the policy on Eligibility for Public Housing (ALL0030A).
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Locational Needs Assessment
Elderly clients who have been approved for public housing and specify a high demand zone are not required to satisfy the Locational Needs Assessment.
Tenancy Type
Elderly tenants currently on an interim 18-month fixed term lease, will be offered a 10-year fixed term lease, if eligible at lease review.
Elderly applicants entering public housing from 23 October 2006 will be offered a 10 year fixed term lease in line with the Types and Length of Lease policy (EST0208A).
Note: For the purpose of determining length of lease for older persons, a 10 year lease will be offered to persons aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clients aged 45 years and over.
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Appealing Decisions or Actions
If a client disagrees with a decision the Department has made, they should first discuss their concerns with a Client Service Officer. The next step if they still believe we made the wrong decision is to ask for a formal review of the decision. For information on how reviews work, the client can ask the Client Service Officer for a copy of the fact sheet ‘Reviewing Decisions’, or go to our web site www.housing.nsw.gov.au to read the Appeals and Review of Decisions (EST0015A).
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