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<p>DWP has a range of measures designed to support people who flee abusive or violent
households. These include easements to benefit conditionality to give claimants the
space and time needed to stabilise their lives, special provisions in both Housing
Benefit and Universal Credit housing support when a claimant is temporarily absent
from their home through fear of violence, and exemptions from Child Maintenance fees.
Work Coaches may also signpost and refer domestic violence victims to organisations
that can provide further support.</p><p> </p><p>In particular, a claimant who leaves
a mortgaged home due to domestic abuse or violence can continue to receive a support
for mortgage interest (SMI) loan in respect of that property for up to 52 weeks, where
they intend to return to the property, and were receiving an SMI loan at the time
they fled the property.</p><p> </p><p>If the claimant has fled to a refuge, support
for the rental costs is available from Housing Benefit, or if the claimant has fled
and rented a general needs home, support for the housing costs is available from Universal
Credit.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, support for housing costs is available
for victims who take a new rent liability for up to 52 weeks, as the capital value
of the home they have fled from is disregarded; or in Housing Benefit for those who
have fled to a refuge, if the former home is occupied by a partner from whom the claimant
is estranged, the capital value from the home is disregarded for up to 26 weeks.</p>
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