Supporting people programme

Who pays for all the extras in sheltered housing?

Supporting people programme is a way of funding housing related support services by the government. Housing related support services include community alarms and day-to-day support and advice, such as those provided by sheltered housing.

The cost of all the communal facilities and the cleaning of the communal areas are all included in the rent as a service charge. If tenants receive housing benefit to help pay rent, the service charge counts as part of the rent and is covered by the supporting people programme.

The only exception to this is where we provide the heating or hot water in a home as part of the service charge; the supporting people programme does not cover that part of the service charge, nor the water rates.

From 1 April 2003, Plymouth City Council through the Supporting People Team has been funding these services. If tenant is entitled to housing benefit or have had a fairer charging assessment and are assessed as not eligible to pay for the support, these services are free. Tenants do not need to contact us about this since the new funding changes have been made, but if they feel they would benefit from a financial assessment the sheltered housing officer can arrange this.

For further information see the supporting people page. Our debt advice page can also give tenants financial advice.