Nightmare migration experience - Supported Accommodation

Hello everyone,

I'm a newbie to the forum, although I've been getting newsletters for over two years now 🙃

I'm having a super stressful experience with migrating over to Universal Credit from ESA (Support Group). The DWP didn't apply any transitional protection or award me Disability costs. I just got a Standard Allowance initially.

I've managed to successfully challenge this, with the help of the Citizen's Advice Bureau. Thankfully, I'm now getting Disability (LWRCA).

However! The nightmare continues because they won't pay my weekly housing costs.

Basically, I'm renting a studio flat through a housing association which used to provide me with support services. The support worker was so terrible that I negotiated a change in my tenancy agreement to stop receiving any support services or paying for them. Universal Credit are saying they won't pay for anyone living in "supported housing" and that I need to reclaim housing benefit. But, they notified my local council who shut down my claim. My local council will not accept a new claim for housinh benefit on the basis they believe that I'm NOT in supported housing. So, essentially I'm between a rock and a hard place may end up homeless....

I know this isn't directly related to disability, but I would really appreciate some advice or just some moral support in a stressful time.

Does anyone know of any DWP guidance, caselaw in relation to supported housing or have personal experience dealing with this? I feel like I should have been pre-warned....

Suze x

Hi David,

Thank you so much for replying. It's interesting to know about the "special portal of communication".

Unfortunately, my housing association (Places for People) hates me, mainly because I created and ran a Residents Group for my building and encouraged residents to advocate for repairs and complain.

My housing association have told my local Council's housing benefit team that I'm NOT in supported housing (making me ineligible for housing benefit). But they've simultaneously told Universal Credit I am in supported housing and therefore not eligible for housing costs under UC.

They're attempting to make me homeless....