Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities

Thank you payments

Sponsors are eligible for a monthly payment from the UK government as a thank you for hosting.

Local authorities will administer ‘thank you’ payments to sponsors/hosts once they are content that the sponsor/host meets the suitability requirements of the scheme.

As of 1 October 2024, sponsors/hosts of new hosting arrangements are not eligible to claim thank you payments if they have, or form, a close family relationship with their guest. Further details on host eligibility is on the UK Government website.

Until 1 April 2025, sponsors/hosts received £350 a month during the first 12 months of their guests’ stay. This increased to £500 once the guest has been in the UK for 12 months in order to help sponsors who are able to continue hosting for up to 3 years. This includes when a sponsor or guest has been rematched, even if it is the sponsor’s first time hosting.

Under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, eligible sponsors/hosts can receive £350 a month for the 18 months that their guest is covered by the scheme. Sponsors/hosts must reapply for thank you payments once their guest has moved onto the UPE scheme. Sponsors/ hosts will not be eligible to receive thank you payments if they have, or form a close relationship with their guest. Further information can be found on the UK Government website.

The thank you payment is intended to support existing hosts, and to help new hosts to offer support to Ukrainians in the UK who may need a new place to stay, and to give guests who may need it more time to get ready to move into independent accommodation.

The payments will be tax free and should not affect the sponsor’s entitlement to benefits or council tax status.

Local authorities must ensure that they adhere to certain conditions of payment:

• only the named lead sponsor is eligible for the ‘thank you’ payment
• it has been determined that the sponsor does not have a close family relationship with the guest
• from 1 April 2025,  sponsors can claim £350 per month regardless of the guest’s time spent in the UK
• only one monthly payment will be given per residential address, regardless of the number of guests being hosted, size, or location of the property
• payments must only be issued to those lead sponsors where it is confirmed that they have passed the necessary property and safeguarding checks
• fraud checks must be conducted in line with the council’s anti-fraud processes
• lead sponsors are not eligible for the monthly payment if they are charging the guest rent

Funding will be allocated for these payments but we expect local authorities to cover administration costs from the tariff, including costs of fraud prevention.