Forum Home → Discussion → Housing costs → Thread
Starting work while on UC and HB for supported accommodation
This is something I feel that I should (and may) know the answer to but as I’m not sure and can’t find a definitive answer I thought I’d ask…...
Situation is that claimant lives in supported accommodation. They receive UC for living costs with LCWRA included. They also receive standard rate daily living PIP. Rent is paid by HB.
They are considering starting work at £11 per hour. Hours of intended work not known. How will this affect UC and HB?
My thoughts are that UC will be looked at first and as long as they still receive some UC they will continue to receive full HB. Is that right? My concern is that if they work enough hours that seems potentially more generous than an award to someone on legacy benefits who would start losing entitlement at a much earlier stage.
UC is a passport, just like irESA, ibJSA, IS or SPC, so provided that someone gets any UC at all, they will get max HB. If their UC is nilled, then there would need to be a HB calculation under normal rules.
Thanks Elliot.
That’s what I thought but when I considered it, it seemed too good to be true.
Mairi
It’s no different from if he was in general needs housing with a UC housing element. It just highlights how working renters do much better on UC than HB in most cases
It’s no different from if he was in general needs housing with a UC housing element. It just highlights how working renters do much better on UC than HB in most cases
And if it’s supported and not temporary accommodation they should be able to argue that it is the higher rate of the work allowance that applies to the earnings