Overview

• A DWP rule bars Nadine Rich from claiming universal credit while living in council-provided temporary accommodation, forcing her to depend solely on housing benefit.
• Housing benefit decreases as her earnings rise, so the qualified district nurse limits herself to 30 hours of work per week to cover her £875 monthly rent.
• Her flat in Abbey Hey is plagued by rodents and mould, prompting pest control visits and council-ordered repairs to address damp and infestations.
• Unable to afford tuition without risking rent arrears, she cannot take the course needed to advance from NHS band five to band six and improve her income.
• Whitehall has acknowledged the interaction issue between universal credit and housing benefit and says it is considering reforms but has yet to implement any changes.