Footballer Left Paralysed After Fall 'Wins Fight Against Bedroom Tax'
The family of a ex Liverpool academy footballer left with life changing injuries after a 50 footfall have spoken of their relief after fears penalised by the Government's so called 'Bedroom Tax' were quashed at a tribunal.
27 year old Neil Carroll from Huyton was left with severe brain damage after falling from the Rocket flyover in August 2012.
Since then, he's requires round the clock care - as he learns to walk and talk again.
He lives in a specially adapted house with his girlfriend Kathyrn and a live in carer.
After the Department of Work and Pensions ruled he has a spare bedroom, he did face the posibility having to pay an extra £21.76 a week.
This charge is covered through Discretionary Housing Payments which have to be reassesed every year. His family claim that help is not guarenteed when they come to reapply in March, and it's a charge they can't afford.
Today a trinbual judge has ruled that their house isn't under occupied and there will be no change to their housing benefit.
Neil's mum Cathy said: "Absolutely thrilled to bit, finally someone has had a bit of common sense"
"He's ruled that they can't share a bedroom because of Neil's complex's needs.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The council is providing ongoing support to Neil Carroll and Kathryn Dyer.
“We have funded a series of adaptations to their home to help Neil. Due to the specific circumstances of this case, we are also covering the cost of the ‘bedroom tax’ through discretionary housing payments, which means Neil and Kathryn do not have to pay extra for their second bedroom.
“Our normal policy is to review applications at least annually to determine whether the customer’s circumstances have changed. In view of the circumstances in this case, should Neil and Kathryn again apply for additional support from April 2016, it is likely that we will be able to provide this. However, we need to make decisions on an individual case-by-case basis.
“It is important to note that the council is not responsible for deciding what is classed as a bedroom – this is dictated by the policy of the Government.”
The Department for Work and Pensions said: “Removing the spare room subsidy has restored fairness to the system.
“We know there are cases where people might need extra help adjusting to welfare reforms, which is why we have provided Local Councils with over £500m since 2010, with a further £870m promised over the course of this Parliament.”