What this guide covers

This adviser guide explains how your client's universal credit housing costs element is calculated and what information the DWP includes in the statement.

Members of the public looking for initial advice on universal credit housing costs can find help with this on Shelter's website.

Who can claim housing costs?

To claim the housing costs element of UC, a claimant or their partner normally needs to:

• pay a rent or pay certain service charges

• be legally liable to make payments

• occupy the accommodation as their home

There are exceptions to all of these requirements. A claimant who is not a tenant themselves but is living in a property and paying rent, or who is temporarily absent from their accommodation, should be referred to specialist benefits advice.

The DWP may refuse to pay the housing costs element if they are satisfied that the tenancy is not a genuine commercial arrangement, or that the agreement was contrived purely to claim more universal credit. If the DWP is claiming one of these reasons, you should refer your client to specialist benefits advice.

Payments will typically be laid out in a claim statement like this:

More information on housing costs

You can find out more about housing costs and Universal Credit on Gov.uk.

The public can find out more about universal credit housing element on Shelter's website.

Further guidance for professionals

Professionals can consult with benefits advisers at the Child Poverty Action Group's Advice line for advisers which can provide advice for advisers over telephone and email.

Shelter's Expert Housing Advice Service provides specialist help to voluntary organisations and local authorities on housing matters. This can include advice on universal credit's housing element and housing benefit.