{
  "id": 12111092,
  "title": "UK residents can now work more without losing housing support — Govt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/uk-residents-can-now-work-more-without-losing-housing-support-govt-12111092",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:58:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/uk-residents-can-now-work-more-without-losing-housing-support-govt/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "From October 5, 2026, more than 325,000 people residing in supported housing and temporary accommodation in the UK will be able to work longer hours without facing a “cliff edge” reduction in housing support. The Department for Work and Pensions introduced these changes on Monday, citing their positive impact on young individuals entering the workforce.\n\nThe previous system required some residents to receive Universal Credit for daily living expenses, while their housing support was administered separately through Housing Benefit. This dual structure led to situations where people's Housing Benefit would decrease more rapidly when they began work or increased their hours. As a result, they could sometimes find themselves in a worse financial position despite earning more.\n\nUnder the new rules, Housing Benefit for working-age claimants will now be calculated more similarly to Universal Credit, addressing the disparity in earnings treatment. Seyi Obakin, CEO of Centrepoint, described this change as a significant breakthrough for young people. Previously, these individuals often felt \"trapped\" and were deterred from increasing their working hours or exploring new career opportunities due to the financial repercussions.\n\nEmma Haddad, CEO of St Mungo’s, shared that the charity had encountered cases where people faced the dilemma of choosing between income and maintaining their accommodation. The new system prevents such harsh withdrawals of support when individuals work more, thus ensuring they benefit financially from their efforts.\n\nThe Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, emphasized that people should not be forced to decide between having a home and being able to work. Additionally, Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, noted that the old system discouraged residents from seeking employment and that the new regulations would ensure that increased working hours improved their financial situation. Five new earned-income disregards will be implemented annually for Housing Benefit claimants in supported housing and temporary accommodation, with no group facing a disadvantage due to these changes.",
  "summary": "The UK government has changed housing support rules, allowing over 325,000 people in supported housing to work more hours without a sharp drop in benefits. Read More: https://punchng.com/uk-residents-can-now-work-more-without-losing-housing-support-govt/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "UK residents can now work more without losing housing support — Govt",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/uk-residents-can-now-work-more-without-losing-housing-support-govt",
        "published": "2026-10-05T08:42:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}