Work and benefits: Homes for Ukraine
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-15)

How councils can support guests to find work and claim benefits.

Help guests to access benefits and find a job

Councils should support guests to access local Jobcentre Plus appointments for benefit assessments and job-seeking.

There is a Help to claim service (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/contact-us-about-universal-credit/) provided by Citizens Advice that is confidential. They will not share claimants’ personal information unless they agree.

If guests are unable to claim online or get help with their claim, they can call the Universal Credit helpline. Calls to the Universal Credit helpline are free. Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx.

When their Universal Credit claim has been made, they will be invited for a meeting with a Work Coach at their local Jobcentre Plus.

Bank accounts and National Insurance (NI) numbers

When making a claim guests should use their own bank account details and ensure that they are the only person with access to their account.

Guests can look for and start work without a NI number if they can prove they can work in the UK. Guests can prove they have the right to work in the UK by sharing their eVisa share code with their employer.

The National Careers Service provides free, impartial, and personalised information and guidance on careers (https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/). They can help guests to make decisions on learning, training, and work. Advice is delivered through individual and group face-to-face sessions, over the telephone and online.

Employers are required to conduct mandatory right to work checks on all prospective employees. Having a NI number is not part of these checks, and the having a NI number does not prove that an individual has a right to work. A potential employer that a guest wants to work for will tell the guest what documents they need to show.

Guests can apply for a NI number (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-national-insurance-number-homes-for-ukraine) if they do not have one. The application service will give them information on how to apply for one and tell them which documents they must provide.

If a guest does not have a NI number but is applying for benefits, the application process for a NI number will be initiated by the benefit line. The guest will not need to apply for a NI number separately.

Advice about tax

If a guest works in the UK on a self-employed basis – so working for themselves as opposed to working for an employer – they may incur a UK tax liability on their self-employment earnings. This must be paid through the HMRC Self Assessment system.

These is more information available on income tax and personal allowances (https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates) and Self Assessment (https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns).

Guests can read more information about paying tax (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/paying-tax-homes-for-ukraine) or paying tax in the UK if they’re still employed in Ukraine (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/paying-taxes-in-the-uk-if-you-work-for-an-employer-based-in-ukraine).

Council Tax disregard

In England, Homes for Ukraine (HfU) visa holders qualify for a council tax disregard. This means that a guest living in a sponsor/host’s home under the HfU scheme is disregarded from council tax calculations for the duration of their HfU visa. If an HfU visa holder lives on their own or with other HfU visa holders in self-provided accommodation this disregard continues to apply.

Under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, only those who previously held HfU visas and remain in sponsorship continue to qualify for a council tax disregard. Sponsorship is defined as living in accommodation provided by a sponsor/host who is entitled to thank you payments in connection to HfU, including those available to UPE sponsors/hosts.

This means that UPE visa holders are disregarded for the purpose of council tax only if they live in accommodation provided by a sponsor/host who is entitled to thank you payments under UPE, and they previously held an HfU visa.

UPE visa holders do not qualify for the disregard when they are no longer living in accommodation provided by a sponsor/host, regardless of whether they previously held an HfU visa. UPE visa holders who did not previously hold an HfU visa do not qualify for the disregard. Councils should use their discretion to assess whether council tax discounts can be offered in individual cases, depending on the circumstances.

Council welcome payments to guests

Councils have discretion on the form of welcome (and any additional) payments made to guests.

In addition to the £200 welcome payment, guests may have the option of receiving an advance payment from Universal Credit.

Universal Credit

The first regular Universal Credit payment is usually paid 5 weeks after the claim was submitted by the guest (the ‘claimant’). This is made up of a one-month assessment period and up to 7 days for the payment to reach their account.

Once identification has been verified and a NI number added to a claim, if required, the claimant can apply for an advance to support them until they receive their first payment. This can be requested over the phone or online.

Guests can read translated information about Universal Credit and other benefits (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-universal-credit-and-other-benefits-homes-for-ukraine).

An advance on Universal Credit

Claimants can request an advance of up to 100% of their estimated Universal Credit entitlement. Claimants will be asked over what period of time they wish to spread their advance recovery, up to 24 months. A claimant who chooses 24 months will receive the same amount of entitlement during that time, just divided into 25 payments rather than 24.

Once agreed, advance payments will generally take 3 to 4 days to be paid into the claimant’s account. If a claimant has an urgent need, they may be able to receive a same day payment. This option is not available on weekends and public holidays.

Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a universal benefit for parents or guardians that issues monthly payments equating to £21.80 per week for the eldest child and £14.45 per week for each additional child.

Guests will usually be able to claim Child Benefit if they are the parent or guardian of a child or children under the age of 16 (or under the age of 20 if they stay in approved education or training).

By claiming Child Benefit, they receive monetary payments, usually every 4 weeks. They need to apply for this by filling in a Child Benefit claim form (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-child-benefit-for-one-or-more-children) and sending it to the Child Benefit Office. The address is on the form.

There is more information on claiming Child Benefit (https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit) available online, including the evidence that they will need to provide with their claim. Guests can read translated information about claiming child benefits (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-universal-credit-and-other-benefits-homes-for-ukraine).