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When everyone has a home

028 9024 5640: Housing & Debt Helpline for Northern Ireland

Adviser: Helping young people with housing problems

9 February 2022

We’ve seen an increase in the number of young people asking for help with housing issues in recent months.

Housing Rights for Young People is our specialist support service for young people in housing need. The service offers young people aged between 18-25 (or thereabouts):

  • Advice and information
  • Casework and advocacy
  • Mediation

Our Housing Rights for Young People case worker has been able to support young people to resolve a variety of housing issues.

Universal credit back dated payment clears arrears

Our caseworker Eamon recently helped a 21-year-old housing association tenant to sort out her Universal Credit claim and deal with her rent arrears.

Leyla contacted Housing Rights because she had fallen into rent arrears. She had applied for Universal Credit but wasn’t getting help with her rent.

Eamon contacted Universal Credit and discovered that they had the wrong address recorded for Leyla. Eamon helped Leyla change her address on the system. Universal Credit released all housing costs payments owed from the date her entitlement began.

Leyla had hoped the backdated payment would cover all her arears but there was still an amount left to pay. Eamon investigated and discovered that a deduction was being made from her Universal Credit because her dad lived with her.

Most people will see a reduction in their benefits if a non-dependent adult lives with them. Universal Credit calls this a housing cost contribution. It expects Leyla’s dad to cover the deduction. Leyla didn’t know this was being taken from her Universal Credit and arrears built up over time.

Eamon negotiated an affordable payment plan with her housing association. As long as Leyla sticks to the agreement her housing association won’t take any action against her because of her arrears.

Contact Housing Rights for Young People if you or someone you’re working with is a young person who needs help with housing.

Tagged In

Benefits, Affordability, Adviser

This article was written on 9 February 2022. It should not be relied on as a statement of the current law or policy position. For help with housing issues please contact our helpline on 028 9024 5640 or use our online chat service at www.housingadviceNI.org.