Practical steps for your first weeks in West Sussex, whether you are staying in a hotel or moving into your new home.
While you stay in a hotel, West Sussex County Council staff and your caseworker will help you understand the next steps toward longer term housing. Housing may not become available on a date or in an area you choose. Keep in touch with staff and attend the meetings arranged for you.
Plan for a wait: the first Universal Credit payment usually takes about five weeks after a claim. Ask about an advance if you need help while waiting; an advance is repaid from later payments.
School placements may take time. Ask the admissions team or your caseworker what happens next.
Learning and using English early can make everyday tasks easier. Go at a pace that works for you.
The hotel is a temporary arrangement. Ask staff what facilities are available. If there are no cooking facilities, do not cook in rooms. Follow the hotel's rules.
You may not be able to choose when a suitable home becomes available or its exact location. Ask staff how accommodation options are assessed.
If you are taking part in the FYO housing scheme, ask your caseworker what actions you need to take and what help is available. Keep working with staff and ask for updates on your next steps.
While your family is staying in hotel accommodation, these are the routes through which you may be supported to find a home. Ask your caseworker which options apply to you.
You may receive an offer of a settled home from the Home Office. You have five working days (seven calendar days) from receiving the offer to decide whether to accept it. Speak to your caseworker promptly if you need help understanding the offer.
If you reject the offer, you will receive a Notice to Quit (NTQ), normally giving you a minimum of 28 calendar days to leave temporary accommodation. Check the exact leaving date on your notice.
During the notice period, the HbAT (Hotel Based Accommodation Team) will support you to try to secure alternative accommodation.
Through the West Sussex Find Your Own (FYO) route, you or your caseworker can identify a suitable property.
The relevant team will then support you with the arrangements, subject to the scheme’s requirements and approval. Ask your caseworker what steps you need to take and what support is available.
If your family wishes to remain in West Sussex, a dedicated team can support you to find accommodation within the county.
Tell your caseworker that you would like to stay in West Sussex so they can explain this route and the next steps. Availability and the location of suitable properties may vary.
If a home cannot be secured during your notice period, your caseworker will support your family to submit a homelessness application to the council you wish to approach.
That council is responsible for assessing the application and explaining what assistance is available, rather than the West Sussex resettlement team. The council may consider your circumstances and local connections; an application does not guarantee a home in your preferred area.
Take your notice and deadlines seriously. Contact your caseworker as soon as you receive a Notice to Quit. Do not wait until your leaving date to ask for help. Make sure you understand your options and the implications before rejecting an accommodation offer.
Use the first week to learn how the property works, who to contact and which accounts or services need your new address. Ask questions before a small problem becomes urgent.
Repairs are prioritised by urgency and may not happen immediately. Follow the repair reporting process given by your housing provider or landlord.
Tell Universal Credit about relevant changes in your circumstances through your account.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed or uncertain and to have many questions. Building independence happens through small, steady steps. Your caseworker is there to guide you as you learn how to manage more for yourself.
The headings below give the correct information. Each item explains a common misunderstanding. Your circumstances and local arrangements may differ; ask for individual advice if you are unsure.
Common misunderstanding: “Benefits are paid immediately.”
What you need to know: A first Universal Credit payment usually takes around five weeks after you claim. If eligible and short of money, ask about an advance; you will have to repay it. How payments work ↗
Common misunderstanding: “Housing repairs are fixed instantly.”
What you need to know: The timescale depends on urgency and the landlord or housing provider's process. Report urgent repairs using the emergency contact you were given.
Common misunderstanding: “A school place will be arranged straight away.”
What you need to know: School admissions and placements can take days or weeks. Complete the application and ask the admissions team what happens next. School places ↗
Common misunderstanding: “My caseworker can give me legal advice.”
What you need to know: Caseworkers can guide and signpost you, but formal legal or immigration advice should come from a suitably qualified adviser. Ask to be referred or find an immigration adviser ↗.
Common misunderstanding: “Saving any money means my Universal Credit will go down.”
What you need to know: Small savings do not automatically reduce Universal Credit. Total money, savings and investments above £6,000 can reduce it, and having more than £16,000 normally means you cannot get it. Tell Universal Credit about changes and check the current rules. Savings rules ↗
Common misunderstanding: “Support is identical in every district.”
What you need to know: Local housing, education and community arrangements can differ. Ask which council and service is responsible for each task where you live.
Common misunderstanding: “I will get housing in the exact area I choose.”
What you need to know: Availability and whether a home is suitable and affordable affect what can be offered. Tell your worker about important needs, but your preferred location may not be available.
Common misunderstanding: “I will always receive the same benefits every month.”
What you need to know: Universal Credit can change with earnings, household circumstances, savings and eligibility. Read your account messages, report changes and ask the Jobcentre or a benefits adviser about your own award. What affects payments ↗
Start with your allocated caseworker for questions about your resettlement plan. West Sussex also has refugee resettlement information. For benefits decisions, use your Universal Credit account or Jobcentre. For legal advice, use a qualified adviser.