Why Housing Benefit Decision-Making Sometimes Misunderstands Exempt Accommodation Introduction The legal requirement that care, support or supervision (CSS) be “more than minimal” for exempt accommodation purposes is well established. However, problems arise when some revenues and benefits colleagues elevate this relatively modest threshold into a requirement for substantial personal support, prescribed support hours, daily interventions,… Continue reading The “More Than Minimal” Myth
Tag: supported housing
“Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are Support, Supervision and Sufficient”
“Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are Support, Supervision and Sufficient”.
This note sets out the key case law underpinning a practical and defensible position for supported housing providers: that “Intensive housing management and maintenance are support, supervision and sufficient.” Remember where you heard that first!
This is in circumstances where supported housing providers are often told by DWP and revenues and benefits colleagues that “care, support or supervision are not HB-eligible”, and that Intensive housing management and maintenance are not sufficient on their own. This isn’t true.
What was the impact of Supported Housing People’s coproduced SHROA Consultation response?
Exactly a year ago, we at Supported Housing People Ltd (SHP) were busy coordinating the supported housing sector’s co-produced SHROA Consultation Response template. Many people contributed to it, and even more used the final versions of the live document as their own organisational response to the Consultation.
As you know, the government responded to that Consultation this month. Our response to the government’s response is generally very positive. We were keen to know what difference you made through the SHP Consultation response template. We did an analysis and mapped the SHP template response content directly to the government’s response to that Consultation.
The very evident conclusion is that we have collectively made a massive difference. I mean, really big! This is a tribute to coproduction and cooperation. Thank you, everyone.
The End of the Property-Led Exempt Accommodation Contrivance?
I need to bring to your attention a very recent Upper Tribunal Judgment.
Some of you may recall a BBC Panorama programme from a few years ago (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62497015), which focused on the charity My Space Housing Solutions.
I have, for a long time, written and spoken about property-led entryism into the supported housing ecosystem by property developers, portfolio owners, lettings agents, etc., who see big profits from housing benefit, but have no emotional commitment to supported housing. This could be the end of that business model, and the sooner the better.
SHROA : Progress Made: But the Job Isn’t Finished
Oversight) Act consultation, and it has clearly listened. The direction of travel is broadly positive. However, while there are real improvements, SHROA is not quite “there” yet.
What’s the Difference between Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance, and “Care, Support or Supervision”?
Intensive Housing Management and Maintenance are “Support and Supervision”. Intensive Housing Management and maintenance are likely to be “more than minimal”, and there should be no requirement to provide additional CSS for the purposes of housing benefit or exempt accommodation compliance.
Supported Housing People December 2025 Supported Housing Update
An update on the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act (SHROA), supported housing licensing, the DWP’s potential definition of “support”, the possible abolition of housing benefit, the Exempt Accommodation Project (EAP) and its role in helping councils manage subsidy recovery for supported housing and temporary accommodation, and as a “community of good practice”, and finally case law to show that intensive housing management and maintenance are “support”.
What is “Care, Support or Supervision”, and can it be Funded through Enhanced Housing Benefit?
The purpose of this blog post is to challenge the notion that “care, support or supervision” (CSS) in its entirety isn’t eligible to be funded by (enhanced) housing benefit.
Help With Claiming Enhanced Housing Benefit
Supported housing providers will have noticed recently that enhanced housing benefit claims are subject to more intense scrutiny than has historically been the case.
Claiming Enhanced Housing Benefit & the DWP Housing Benefit Guidance for Supported Housing Claims
This briefing is aimed at supported housing providers claiming enhanced housing benefit [both registered providers and non-registered providers] and local authority supported housing commissioning and Revenues and Benefits colleagues.