Difference of opinion in the office regarding a Cl who suffered housefire and has been given temporary hotel accommodation by the Housing Dept while awaiting a new property.
IS are refusing to pay SDP with Income Support as they class him as homeless.

Colleague swears he has seen a CD differentiating between homeless and temporary accommodation (hotel not hostel), I think the IS Section is right.

I would love to be proved wrong......anyone?

"accommodation" is not defined in the regs.

One Commissioner decision on the issue is here:

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/cmmr_upload/cis/cis1677296.doc

The Commissioner finds that a car cannot constitute accommodation.

See also the CPAG case (RJM?) - although this is on whether the rules are discriminatory and contrary to HR law it may contain some other comments that could assist.

I think hotel room is definitely accommodation... why not?

See Uratemp Ventures v Collins (HL) 2000, where it was held that a person could have an assured tenancy of a hotel room.

As usual, it will all depends on the facts.

Thanks to you both for the info, will pass it on and see how it flies

Marg