FOI003724 FOI Revenue and Benefits

Assessment of “more than minimal” care, support or supervision for exempt / specified accommodation Housing Benefit claims

I write on behalf of a not-for-profit provider of supported accommodation for vulnerable adults. We are seeking to understand the requirements that must be met for our accommodation to be accepted as exempt accommodation (or specified accommodation) under Housing Benefit regulations, particularly the threshold for “more than minimal” care, support or supervision.

Please provide the following information:

Internal guidance and decision-making documents
Copies of all current internal guidance, policies, procedures, checklists, decision matrices, training materials, or other documents used by Housing Benefit officers, senior officers, or appeals officers when deciding whether the care, support or supervision provided by a landlord (or someone acting on their behalf) is more than minimal.
Standard forms and evidence requests
Copies of any standard questionnaires, information-request letters, proformas, or evidence checklists that you send to landlords or providers when assessing whether a claim meets the exempt accommodation / specified accommodation criteria.
Local criteria or thresholds
Confirmation of whether you hold any local criteria, hours thresholds, scoring system, or other “mark scheme” for assessing whether care, support or supervision is more than minimal.
If such a document exists, please provide a copy.
If no such local criteria or threshold exists, please confirm this in writing.
Application of national guidance and case law
Any internal notes, training materials, or guidance on how you apply:
the DWP Housing Benefit guidance for supported housing claims, and
relevant Upper Tribunal decisions (including CH/200/2009 and related decisions on the “real difference” test and intensive housing management).
Provider registration or validation process
Any process, form, or guidance you use for the initial acceptance or periodic review of a landlord/provider as delivering exempt or specified accommodation.