Domestic violence and abuse: help from DWP
A guide for domestic violence and abuse victims about services from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
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Details
This guide provides information for victims of domestic violence and abuse about the services and support offered by DWP.
This includes special conditions for:
- Housing Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- the benefit cap
- removal of the spare room subsidy
- Discretionary Housing Payments
- migrant partner support
Find out more about your rights if you’re a victim of domestic violence and abuse.
Updates to this page
Last updated 16 April 2024 + show all updates
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'Rapid advances' are known as 'new claims advances'.
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Section 10 of the guidance about the Child Maintenance Service application fee has been removed as there is no longer a fee.
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If you’ve left an abusive relationship and claim Universal Credit, your work coach can help you to open a new claim as a single claimant. From this moment your ex-partner will not have access to any information about your new claim. You can also get a rapid advance of up to 100% of your expected Universal Credit monthly entitlement. You may get a decision on the same day.
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Updated the section on the removal of the spare room subsidy. From 1 October 2021, Universal Credit and Housing benefit claimants may be exempt from the removal of the spare room subsidy if they have a sanctuary scheme applied to their property.
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Removed Universal Credit waiting days and Universal Credit for 18 to 21 year olds information as both no longer relevant.
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First published.