Universal Credit and Supported Housing

8dayweek

Newcad said:

8dayweek said:

What will have happened ............. is that OP will have selected “Supported or Sheltered”. 

This means when they ask about or query getting support with Rent, the Agents look at the claim, click Housing, see “Supported or Sheltered” and signpost OP back to the Council for HB. 

The point is that, as you say there, the UC agent is making their decision whether UC should be responsible for housing costs based on whether the claimant has selected “I live in supported or sheltered accommodation”.

However the actual criteria for whether UC or HB should pay the housing costs is whether it is "Specified Accomodation" (not 'supported or sheltered') - In other words the UC form asks the wrong question and so the correct information is not gathered.

When a claimant selects “I live in supported or sheltered accommodation” then there should be follow up questions on the form  (or to the HA/landlord) to ascertain if it is actually 'Specified Accomodation' or not.

I don’t disagree - however currently the UC system doesn’t ask any follow-up questions bar “Have you applied for or are you already getting Housing Benefit” then it displays a message along the lines of “stay with HB” or “apply for HB” based on the response. 

An appeal would remit to DWP to pay Housing Element - but the Housing details would still have to be gathered as above, by reporting as Social Housing and entering the details (which is then verified by the Landlord). 

Don’t get me wrong - I know it’s inaccurate / misleading and all that. But OP wants to know how to put it right ASAP I assume, hence my advice.