The Government announced on 9 August 2018 that
housing benefit will be kept in place for all those living in
supported housing, reversing previous proposals set out in a
consultation paper last year.
The Government has previously published proposals in November last year and
invited comments on new ways of funding supported housing,
including grant funding for short-term provision, such as hostels
and refuges, and a 'Sheltered Rent' for sheltered and extra care
housing.
Under the model proposed, councils would have received funding
from the Government and paid short-term supported housing rents to
housing providers at their discretion.
Now that the Government has opted to keep funding within housing
benefit, this means residents will claim housing benefit as they do
now through the welfare system, with their rent normally being paid
directly to their landlord.