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What's changing?
More than 325,000 people in supported housing and temporary accommodation will be able to keep more of what they earn, under a change to how Housing Benefit is worked out. enfieldindependent
What was the problem?
Housing Benefit and Universal Credit had different rules on how much you could earn before your benefits started to be reduced, and Housing Benefit support was cut back sooner. That meant taking on extra hours could sometimes result in Housing Benefit being cut faster than your earnings went up. In other words, working more could leave you worse off. Not fair, and not very motivating either. bigissueenfieldindependent
What's different now?
The way Housing Benefit is calculated has been brought into line with Universal Credit. Under Universal Credit, benefit generally reduces by 55p for every £1 you earn, after any work allowance. So if you earn an extra £100, you keep £45 of it. bigissuecapitolskyline
Does this affect me?
It's for working-age people who get Housing Benefit because they live in supported housing or temporary accommodation. If you're on Universal Credit alone, or you get Housing Benefit as a pensioner, this change isn't aimed at you.
Worth knowing:
- Check with your council or landlord how and when this affects your claim.
- Tell them if your hours or earnings change.
- Citizens Advice and Turn2us can run a free benefits check if you're unsure.
Rules change often, so always double-check on GOV.UK.
Have you been caught out by this? Share your story on the forum, it could really help someone else
There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.
Posted : 07/10/2026 2:29 pm