The Government has announced it will amend The Universal Credit (Housing Costs Element for claimants aged 18 to 21) (Amendment) Regulations 2017, which came into force on 1 April 2017.

The Regulations were introduced to restrict the housing costs element of Universal Credit for new claimants aged between 18 and 21 years old, in an attempt to reduce the amount of taxpayers’ money paid towards housing costs. Unless an exemption applied then an 18 to 21-year-old Universal Credit claimant would be unable to claim assistance with their rent.