Seeking financial support with no job, no home

[NotLactoseFree]

It's a bit of a friend-of-family-member-of-a-friend situation but basically, the person was on a low income that came with accommodation. That job has been lost and the person has no job, no home etc.

I believe they were already in receipt of UC but I assume at a relatively low level originally as they were earning.

I am suggesting they should contact the UC office to see about getting that topped up. For housing - is this all part of UC or is it separate and done through individual council housing associations?

I'm doing a bit of research separately as well but thought personal experience or knowledge from MN would be helpful.

Are they unable to work?

When I've needed a job I've been able to find one in retail, hospitality and care.

When I needed somewhere to live I just did flatshares.

Your friend will be fine. Retail and hospitality will be much quicker to get into than care as they don't require the DBS checks.

Housing costs are now included within IC. They will have to do a change of circumstances on their UC journal

Cant they contact their local Citizens Advice for information? They should call them directly as you won't know all the answers asked and the confidentiality issue.

I suspect this depends on who you ask! .

Technically, can work. But mental health challenges is making just the process of seeking work etc almost impossible. there's quite a lot of magic thinking I think and while I'm broadly sympathetic to mental health issues usually, there is a history of apathy and victimhood here that makes it difficult. Another reason I am strongly recommending a proactive approach via formal programs as the extended support network is not necessarily in the right place to help.

That's what I thought. I had a quick look on the local council website and it appears you can still apply for social housing but it wasn't clear how it's paid. I got the sense it's paid by the person/their benefits but at a lower rate than private renting would be.

1. Register with council for accommodation - request something temporary as homeless. If they are staying with someone, that person writes a letter stating they cannot stay there after a certain date and will be officially homeless.
2. OR go to a charity that deals with homeless prevention and follow their route into accommodation. Such as a sit up, where you all gather in a room while the workers try to find you accommodation.
3. Seek charity support utilising any characteristic such as ethnicity, sex, background where specific charities help specific groups.
4. Once in accommodation input rent charge into UC. They begin tenancy on rent arrears and clear a bit off the arrears with each payment.
5. The work coach at the JobCentre focuses on getting them into work.
6. Try the route of claiming unable to work due to mental health problems but it's difficult. If it's successful though they could also get PIP.

All the UC is paid to the recipient who then pays their rent from their UC.