Homes for Ukraine
Sponsors/hosts of guests who arrived through the Homes for Ukraine scheme are eligible for a monthly payment from the UK government as a thank you for hosting.
From 1 April 2025, all eligible sponsors/hosts will receive £350 per month, irrespective of how long guests have been in the UK.
Payments are made for the duration of the guest’s Homes for Ukraine visa and will continue when the guest transitions to a Ukraine Permission Extension visa. When guests apply for a UPE visa, sponsors/hosts should reapply to the council if they wish to continue to receive a monthly payment.
After a guest’s initial 18-month UPE period, the ‘thank you’ payments will discontinue.
The payment, which is made in arrears, is optional, and sponsors must apply to receive payment by completing the application form. The payments will be tax-free and should not affect the sponsor’s entitlement to benefits or council tax status.
The following criteria apply to all ‘thank you’ payments:
• Sponsors must not be charging their guests rent
• DBS checks, property checks and welfare visits must have been successfully completed
• Sponsors who have a close family relationship with their guest are not eligible to apply
• Sponsors must inform the council when their guest exits the property, or is absent for a period of greater than one month
• The property where the guests reside must be within Lancaster City Council district
By applying for a ‘thank you’ payment, you are confirming that you understand and meet these requirements. If you knowingly apply for a payment you are not eligible for, this will be treated as fraud. Any money paid would be claimed back and we would be required to report it to MHCLG.
Further information is available at Lancashire County Council's Homes for Ukraine scheme and Support for sponsors pages.
How to apply for a Homes for Ukraine ‘thank you’ payment
A claim form is required when the guests arrive at the property, and when the guests move from a Homes for Ukraine visa to a Ukraine Permission Extension visa.
Payment will only be made after the council has undertaken the necessary steps to validate the claim. This includes a visit from a housing standards officer to ensure the suitability of the property, as well as confirmation from Lancashire County Council about the eligibility of the sponsor and guest(s) under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
In some circumstances, the sponsorship may be deemed to be inappropriate. In such cases, funding will end immediately.
Sponsors are required to notify the council of any changes in relation to the claim, such as some or all of the guests leaving the property, etc. Updates should be sent by email to the Homes for Ukraine team at Lancashire County Council at homesforukraine@lancashire.gov.uk. Failure to provide the updates in a timely manner may lead to the recovery of any sums paid.
The council reserves the right to recover any sums paid in error for whatever reason under the scheme. Any cases of fraud identified will be treated under the council’s fraud policy and may lead to a criminal conviction.
Once the claim is approved, payments will be made each month in arrears on or around the anniversary of the guest arriving at the property. Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council will be contacting sponsors and guests at regular intervals. If contact or lack of contact indicates that the sponsorship is not working as intended, payments will be suspended until the matter is resolved. Payments will only be made to a valid UK bank account via BACS transfer.
If the sponsor wishes to report a change of address or bank account, they must inform the council by emailing publicprotection@lancaster.gov.uk.
Apply for a Homes for Ukraine ‘thank you’ payment
Last updated: 10 February 2025