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Young person 17/18 years-old receiving UC (including housing element), loses housing element for the whole of the assessment period, when she moves du
With UC, the normal rule is that changes of circumstances (whether favourable or unfavourable) take effect from the first day of the AP in which they occur.
So if someone - of any age - ceases to be eligible for housing costs in the middle of an AP, then they won’t get paid for the days which have already passed in that AP.
Equally, if someone accrues a liability for housing costs mid-way through an AP, then they will get a windfall for all the days in that AP when they didn’t have to pay rent but will get paid housing costs.
I suppose you can time these things to an extent to minimise the shortfalls and maximise the windfalls - but obviously that isn’t going to be possible in every situation.
DHP is one option to address the shortfall. Otherwise it just needs to be dealt with as a debt (looking at payment plans, asking for it to be written off etc. etc.)
With UC, the normal rule is that changes of circumstances (whether favourable or unfavourable) take effect from the first day of the AP in which they occur.
So if someone - of any age - ceases to be eligible for housing costs in the middle of an AP, then they won’t get paid for the days which have already passed in that AP.
Equally, if someone accrues a liability for housing costs mid-way through an AP, then they will get a windfall for all the days in that AP when they didn’t have to pay rent but will get paid housing costs.
I suppose you can time these things to an extent to minimise the shortfalls and maximise the windfalls - but obviously that isn’t going to be possible in every situation.
DHP is one option to address the shortfall. Otherwise it just needs to be dealt with as a debt (looking at payment plans, asking for it to be written off etc. etc.)
Thanks for the response Elliot!
The organisation concerned is a Charity helping young people find accommodation via supported lodgings with host households and they advise its on a just in time basis to all intents and purposes. So timing I think they will find a problem, and similarly dealing with as a debt/accruing as a debt with host families they would want to avoid.
We have advised client and Support Worker to apply for a DHP, effectively Ccing it via the MP i.e. enlisting MP’s help to lend umph and hopefully expedite application to get a quick resolution in client’s favour, and as a social policy issue.
Actually we explored the Flexible Support Fund too, but reading through the guidance etc it excludes household costs.
Finally as a an excuse to plug CPAG’s excellent Early Warning System - we advised Support Worker about it. EWS form is really easy to complete and a really worthwhile use of time, alternatively they can be emailed.