A medical assessment is the process that we use to assess your health and decide if we can award you more points to improve your position on the housing list.
How do I apply for a medical assessment?
You will need to fill in a medical assessment form. (PDF format, 12 pages, 177KB) (This link opens in a new window)This asks for details of your circumstances. If you are applying on behalf of a member of your household, please give details of their circumstances too.
When should I apply for a medical assessment?
You should apply for a medical assessment if you think that you or a member of your household’s health or disability is being made worse by your current housing situation.
Can other members of my household apply for a medical assessment?
Yes. Please provide all of the details on one form only.
Where can I get a medical assessment form?
You can download a medical assessment form (PDF format, 12 pages, 177KB) (This link opens in a new window) or they are available from any of the area housing offices or the Housing Needs Section.
Can I get help to fill in the form?
Yes. You can either get someone else to fill in the form on your behalf or ask a member of our staff to help you. If someone else helps you to fill in the form, they must sign the form too.
It is very important that you give us as much information as possible. You should answer all relevant questions so that we can make an accurate and fair assessment. You must make sure that you and any other adult members of your household who are applying for medical points have signed the declaration at the end of the form. If the form is not filled in properly or is not signed, we will have to return it to you to complete. This will mean that your assessment will take longer.
Do I need a letter from my doctor?
No. You do not need any letters of support from your doctor to apply. However, if you already have any information relating to your medical circumstances, you can attach this to your medical assessment form.
Who will make the medical assessment?
An independent medical advisor employed by Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust and qualified in public health medicine will make the medical assessment. The medical advisor will assess all the details you give us on your form. He or she may also consult your doctor.
The medical advisor will award medical points based on the details you provide on your form. If more than one person is applying, points will be given to the whole household rather than to an individual. Your household can receive up to 500 medical points.
There are five categories of medical points, which are as follows.
|
Category |
Standard |
Points |
|
A |
Awarded where your illness will become life-threatening if you were to stay in your current accommodation. Awarded where (due to illness) it is no longer reasonable for you to stay in your current accommodation. |
500 |
|
B |
Awarded where your illness is likely to continue to seriously deteriorate if you stay in your current accommodation. Awarded where you are physically disabled and are not able to make full use of the facilities in your current accommodation. |
350 |
|
C |
Awarded where a change of property would significantly improve your mobility difficulties or improve your illness or disability. |
150 |
|
D |
Awarded where a change of property would moderately improve your health. |
50 |
|
E |
No points will be awarded where the accommodation does not affect your illness or disability. |
0 |
Are there any special circumstances?
Yes. The medical advisor may take account of the following circumstances.
If you made a homeless application and have said that you are vulnerable due to an illness, the medical advisor will carry out a medical assessment. This will identify whether you have a priority need for rehousing. This priority need is defined by law, not by the medical advisor. For details of priority need, please see page 4 of our homelessness leaflet.(PDF format, 16 pages 135KB) (This link opens in a new window)
The medical advisor will consider your request for an extra bedroom for medical reasons if you:
If you find it hard to manage the stairs in your home, the medical advisor may suggest that you are considered for ground-floor housing. However, the medical advisor may also suggest that your current home is adapted to allow you to continue to stay there, for example, by installing a stairlift.
The medical advisor may decide that sheltered housing is more suitable for you. For example, if you are elderly, ill or disabled and you need support and general supervision while in your own home.
How long will a medical assessment take?
On average, you should have the result of your assessment within four weeks of applying. Sometimes it will take longer, but we will tell you if this happens.
How will I know when a decision has been made?
We will write and tell you within three working days of receiving the decision from the medical advisor.
What if I disagree with the decision?
If you disagree with the decision you can ask for it to be reviewed. Your request should be made in writing to the Housing Needs Manager and should be received within 21 days of you being given the decision. A medical review group will review any decision made by the medical advisor. After the review has been heard, we will write to you with the outcome and the reasons for the decision. This decision will be final.
What if I want to make another medical application?
We will not accept another medical application from your household for 12 months from the date of the original medical decision, unless:
If these circumstances apply, you may also need to fill in a new form but we will tell you if this is the case.
We have a leaflet on the Allocations Policy Medical Assessment (PDF format, 9 pages, 795 KB) (This link opens in a new window) which you can download here (if you have Adobe Acrobat) or you can contact any of our Area Housing Offices.
For more detailed information about your assessment, please write to or phone: