Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on bringing forward the increase of the monthly payment for hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme before people have been in the UK for 12 months, and whether such payments will be extended to hosts on the Family Visa Scheme.

As announced in December 2022, all Homes for Ukraine sponsors will receive an increased 'thank you' payment of £500 a month once guests have been in the country for over a year. Where sponsorships can no longer continue for the financial year 2023/24, all councils will receive help to house Ukrainians through a one-off pot of government funding worth £150 million. The guidance and breakdown of the £150 million funding by local authority can be accessed here.

This money can be used flexibly to support Ukrainians into the private rented sector, amongst other things. For instance it can be used to provide deposits or rent advances, or to offer guarantees.

Ukrainians arriving under both the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Ukraine Family Scheme have the same entitlement to work, pensions, health provision, education, and access to benefits. These are effective from as soon as a Ukrainian guest has a valid visa and arrives in the UK. Both schemes provide a right to remain for three years.