Young man working in construction looks frustrated

Our Make Work Pay campaign

A benefit system that puts people off work is a broken system. 

Young people who have faced homelessness deserve to reach their full potential and be excited about their future in work. But outdated benefit rules were holding them back. 

If you work more hours, you should be better off. It should be that simple. 

But this wasn’t the case for more than 30,000 homeless young people. Because of a long-standing flaw in the system, the moment they worked more hours, vital benefits were stripped away – often leaving them worse-off for trying to find their independence. 

This wasn’t fair, so Centrepoint campaigned for change. 

In November 2025’s budget, the government committed to Make Work Pay for young people in supported housing – a massive campaign win. We couldn’t have achieved this without our community of campaigners who spoke out and took action for homeless young people.

End the benefit trap

Watch Beth's story navigating the benefit trap

A major flaw in the system meant young people facing homelessness were worse off the more they worked. It doesn’t make sense – but it’s true. Because of an oversight in an already complex benefits system, young people were penalised for working hard to get out of homelessness. 

Watch Beth's story to find out how the benefit trap was a block on aspiration for young people who have faced homelessness.

Centrepoint team celebrating Make Work Pay win

How we won the campaign

Our Make Work Pay campaign brought together young people who have experienced homelessness, sector colleagues, corporate partners, and over 17,000 people across the country to speak out against this unfair system.

Read our blog on how we secured this vital change for homeless young people
Lady in kitchen
"I haven't lived in supported housing for about four years and I'm still playing catch up [with] all of the debt that put me in.

I'm still fighting. It's a fight. It's a constant fight and it just doesn't end. Even when you're out of that system, you still feel wrong. You still want to get justice, but there's nothing available.”

- Ellie, young person who experienced the benefit trap

Making Work Pay - the research

Young people in supported housing faced a steep financial cliff edge when they tried to increase their hours at work. Because their benefits are split between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, they face a steeper and more punitive withdrawal of support as soon as they enter or progress in work, leaving many worse off overall and effectively blocking their route into stable employment and independence.


Changing the system to be more in line with Universal Credit rules in the private rented sector ensures that work always pays and gives young people in supported accommodation a fair chance to move on from homelessness.

Read our research

Ensure no young person is left out

No Young Person Left Out campaign

Making Work Pay was a key step towards ending youth homelessness by making it easier for young people in supported housing move on to independence.

But did you know that over a third of homeless young people in England did not receive a homelessness assessment last year?

That’s over 37,000 young people left out from receiving the homelessness assessment they need – left without safety, stability or support.

When we speak out together, we can fix this broken system and make sure no young person is left out of the support they deserve.

Join the No Young Person Left Out campaign