Right now, if a young person living in supported housing wants to work more hours, their benefits will be cut more than someone living in private rented accommodation.
This unfair system means young people living in hostels can't get the work they need to get back on their feet. Instead, they're penalised for working harder.
If you agree these rules urgently need to change, will you join Aimee, a young person who faced homelessness, and sign her letter calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Make Work Pay?
Dear Prime Minister Rishi Sunak,
I’m a young person living in Yorkshire. When I became homeless at 18, I had nowhere to turn, but Centrepoint was there to offer me a place to stay, support me with independent living and help me rebuild my life.
Because of my experience, I know how important it is for young people like me to develop their independence - and a good job is crucial to achieving that.
But the current benefit rules mean that, when young people living in hostels and Centrepoint accommodation work more hours, the worse off we are financially. It’s deeply unfair and needs to change now.
When the Government switched to Universal Credit, they didn’t think about the needs of young people facing homelessness. This meant that young people who are staying at hostels get more of their benefits cut when they start to work more than 13 hours a week for 21-22 year olds, compared to people who are living in privately rented accommodation and claiming Universal Credit.
This system is having devastating impacts for young people in supported accommodation. So many of us are forced to work less, or even give up working, because we can’t afford to have our benefits cut. The current rules are preventing us from gaining independence and getting back on our feet.
Reforming the system will benefit everyone. If the rules are changed, it means that we can work more hours, have more money in our pocket and become more independent. It means more young people facing homelessness can use our talents to contribute to the economy, with Centrepoint estimating that the economy could gain £6 billion a year.
With the right support, I was able to overcome the challenges I’ve faced, and I’m now hoping to do my Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care. I know that all young people who experienced homelessness can thrive, if the Government fixes the system to give them a fair chance to succeed.
So please, change the benefits system so that young people in supported accommodation aren’t unfairly penalised for working more hours, so we can work our way towards a better future.
Yours sincerely,
Aimee
