Subject to you satisfying the above criteria we could help you with both emergency and longer term accommodation if it is accepted that you are homeless and in need of accommodation. We will consider if it can help you using both general rules that apply to everyone and special rules that apply to people who were in the forces.
The following categories of applicants will be afforded a priority status for accommodation on Housing Register if they have left the Armed Forces within the last 5 years:
- Those discharged from the Armed Forces as a result of sustaining a serious injury, illness, medical condition, or disability during service which is attributable (wholly or partly) to the person‘s service Those former serving members of the Reserve Forces who need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service
- Those applicants who are in housing need and have been discharged from the Armed Forces such as former armed forces personnel in housing need
- Those bereaved spouses or civil partners of those serving in the regular forces where the bereaved spouse or civil partner has recently ceased to reside, or will cease to be entitled, to reside in Ministry of Defence accommodation • Those applying following the death of their service spouse or civil partner, where the death was wholly or partly attributable to their service
An applicant does not need to meet the Local Connection Requirements to join Housing Register if they are a:
- person who is serving in the regular forces or has done so in the five years preceding their application for housing;
- bereaved spouse or civil partner of someone serving in the regular forces where their spouse or partner’s death is attributable (wholly or partly) to their service and the their entitlement to reside in Ministry of Defence accommodation then ceases;
- seriously injured, ill or disabled reservist (or former reservist) whose injury, illness or disability is attributable wholly or partly to their service.
The Ministry of Defence gives you a Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement 6 months before you leave the forces. It contains the date that you stop being entitled to forces accommodation. You should apply to us for help with housing when you receive the certificate if you think you might be homeless on discharge. We will treat you as ‘threatened with homelessness’ 56 days before the certificate expires and look into your situation. As part of the support offered to you we will complete a Personalised Housing Plan with you and agree actions for both you and the Council to undertake.
You may be considered to be in priority need if we determine that you are vulnerable as a result of being a former member of the armed forces.
When deciding this, we may consider:
- how long you were in the forces and what role you had
- if you spent any time in a military hospital
- if you were released from service on medical grounds (and have a Medical History Release Form)
- if you have had accommodation since leaving service and if you have been able to obtain or maintain accommodation since you left
- how long it has been since you left service
- if you have been injured during your service
To help support your case, you may need to provide medical evidence from the MOD, including a Medical History Release Form (if you were given one).
We may not have a duty to help you if you are homeless after being discharged on disciplinary grounds from the UK armed forces.
If you are living in married or family quarters provided by the armed forces and have been asked to leave due to a relationship breakdown, you should contact the Housing Team on 01902 696000 or email homes@sstaffs.gov.uk as soon as you have received notice to leave. You will usually be provided with 90 days notice to find alternative accommodation. We will treat you as ‘threatened with homelessness’ 56 days before that notice is due to expire.
