Advice regarding ‘what is a necessity’ with DWP

Hi all

I wonder if anyone could please offer any advice.

My disabled friend was very luckily offered a bungalow from the council but the garden is huge (could fit 2 more bungalows on!) and is now overgrown with weeds since moving in a few months ago.

She has severe & degenerative spinal conditions and very poor mental health meaning she rarely leaves her home which she loves and is grateful for.

To make her home more secure as currently anyone can see and walk straight into her back garden (council have said the fence was done by the last tenants so not there responsibility) and to make the garden safe for her to use, eg. levelled, fencing, raised planters with grab rails etc she has been looking in taking 25% out of her pension to do the work. Best quote £13,800.

This would be of considerable benefit to her both physically and mentally but she is afraid to go ahead through fear of losing her UC. She has to maintain the garden to keep her tenancy and as it will cost her over £500 a few times a year just to keep on top of the weeds!

Where does she stand and how best to approach UC in terms of them understanding that this is an essential purchase for both her physical and mental health?

Thank you to anyone who could advise or point me in the right direction.

Best wishes all

K ❤️