Supported Living
Supported living is where a young person lives in a home within the community with a care package that is appropriate to their needs. This can include 24 hour packages of support if required.
Supported living allows flexibility and choice around daily routines; people have their own tenancy and retain their benefits to pay for bills and daily living expenses. This is usually with the support of an appointee. In many cases, people with severe learning disabilities may be eligible for benefits such as Housing Benefit (to help pay rent), Universal Credit, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which contribute towards day-to-day living costs.
Supported living properties are usually rented from a landlord, and the Local Authority or care provider support with sourcing these.
Homes are often ordinary houses within the community, where new tenants are carefully matched with existing residents to ensure compatibility. Some supported living arrangements are designed for a single person.
Residential
Residential care combines care support and accommodation within the same service. Unlike supported living, individuals do not usually hold their own tenancy agreement. Instead, the care provider is responsible for both the accommodation and the support provided.
Residential settings tend to offer a more structured environment and are often larger homes with individual bedrooms and shared communal spaces. However, there are also options for people who require a more individualised living arrangement, including single-occupancy placements. Nursing homes are generally considered a type of residential care provision.
People living in residential care typically have their meals, utilities, and day-to-day support provided as part of their placement. Most of their benefits are used towards the cost of their care and accommodation, with a smaller personal allowance retained for spending money.
Many residential services also provide organised activities and opportunities for residents to take part in social, leisure, and community-based experiences.
Summary Table
|
Area |
Supported Living |
Residential Care |
|
Accommodation |
Person lives in their own rented home within the community. |
Accommodation and care are provided together by the residential service. |
|
Tenancy |
Individual has their own tenancy agreement and tenant rights. |
Individual does not usually have a tenancy agreement. |
|
Support |
Care and support are provided separately from the accommodation and are tailored to the person's needs. Can be 24-hour support if required. |
Care and accommodation are managed by the same provider. This is usually 24-hour care and support as part of the placement. |
|
Choice and Independence |
Greater flexibility and control over daily routines, activities, and household decisions. |
More structured environment with routines set by the service. |
|
Financial Benefit Management |
Individual usually receives and manages benefits such as Universal Credit, PIP, and Housing Benefit (often with support from an appointee). |
Most benefits are contributed towards care costs, with a personal allowance retained for spending money. |
|
Rent and Bills |
Rent and household bills are paid separately, often using benefits. |
Accommodation, meals, and utilities are generally included within the placement. |
|
Living Arrangements |
Can be shared with compatible housemates or be a single-occupancy home. |
Usually larger homes with communal areas, although individual placements may also be available. |
|
Daily Routine |
Individual chooses how to spend their time, with support as needed. |
Activities are often organised and provided by the residential service. |
|
Who May Benefit? |
People who want as much independence as possible while receiving support. |
People who need a higher level of ongoing care and a more structured living environment |
Home Ownership
For some people with disabilities who rely on benefits for their income, it may be possible to buy a home through shared ownership or via the Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme; the HOLD scheme allows people to buy a home on the open market on a shared-ownership basis with a housing association.
To be eligible, you must:
Individuals who lack capacity to manage their finances may still be able to purchase a property through the scheme if they have a deputy appointed to manage their financial affairs.
Owning a home does not mean a person has to live independently. Many people who purchase a property through the HOLD scheme continue to receive support through a Local Authority-funded care package, helping them to live safely and successfully in their own home.
My Safe Home is a specialist mortgage broker that supports disabled people and their families to access shared ownership and HOLD opportunities. They can provide advice on eligibility, mortgages, and the purchasing process.
Please see the links below for more information.
