Exempt Housing Benefit Status query

[veryfrustrated]

I have been told if a housing association that is not on a list of seven approved providers on our local council list then my son is not entitled to exempt housing benefit status for rent charges and poll tax. Blackpool has a cap on the amount of such properties and if there are too many in the area they can refuse another. Anyone know if this is true as I don't trust what they are telling me as they cannot provide a list of such properties in the area I'm looking at or printed guidance on this so I feel they are making the rules up as they go along! The problem I have is all the social housing is in areas of high deprivation and drug use which I feel is not safe for a vulnerable adult. Does he have a legal right to chose the area he lives in and do the LA have a duty of care to apply EHBS to him as a person with needs rather than exempt status for the property?

[Balamorym]

I have gone ahead and found a private rental for my son. He can claim housing element on Universal Credit, which may not cover the whole rent but should cover the bulk of it. Also exemption from council tax. The LA should award housing benefit for a social housing property to pay the entire rent. With supported living properties though there is usually a wait and you may not get choice over the location or care package. I am using direct payments to source care directly. We are claiming housing element for a 2 bedroom property rate because my son needs overnight care.