Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified” (SOC 3229). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break.
What you need
You must have:
- a job offer from a UK employer that's allowed to sponsor visas (check the sponsor list)
- a "certificate of sponsorship" from that employer: a reference number with details of your job
- English at level B2: you can usually prove it with an approved test or a degree taught in English (ways to prove it)
- £1,270 in savings, unless your employer covers your first month or you've been in the UK for 12 months or more
- a criminal record certificate, if you're applying from outside the UK
Based on the UK Immigration Rules and the Skilled Worker visa guide on GOV.UK. This is a summary, not advice about your own situation.
The rules in detail
SOC 2020 code 3229 (Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 1a of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT1a · 29 Oct 26: only for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List.
Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.| Occupation | Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | £33,400 a year (£17.13 an hour)T1a |
| Appendix table(s) | Table 1a, Table 2aa, Table 2b |
| Immigration Salary List | No |
| Temporary Shortage List | No |
| Eligible for PhD points | No |
| Equivalent SOC 2010 code(s) | 2129, 2318, 2412, 3239 |
| SOC 2020 group | 32 Health and social care associate professionals › 322 Welfare and housing associate professionals |
Going rates for 3229 in Appendix Skilled Occupations
A code can appear in more than one table. Each table applies to different applicants. Rates are per year for a 37.5-hour week and must be pro-rated for other hours.
| Table and who it applies to | Going rate | 90% | 80% | 70% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table 1aOnly for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List. | £33,400 £17.13/hr | n/a | n/a | £33,400 £17.13/hr |
| Table 2aaFor applicants using options F–J who were granted Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and have held it continuously, unless option I (Immigration Salary List) or the Temporary Shortage List applies. Not eligible for Global Business Mobility or Scale-up. | £25,400 £13.03/hr | n/a | n/a | £25,000 £12.82/hr |
| Table 2bGlobal Business Mobility only: lead applicants granted permission before 4 April 2024, held continuously, applying before 4 April 2030. | £31,300 £16.05/hr | n/a | n/a | £25,000 £12.82/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 3229
Under Appendix Skilled Worker, the salary must equal or exceed both the general threshold and the going-rate figure for the points option used. This table puts the two figures side by side for each option. It does not say which option applies to any person. See salary thresholds for the conditions on each option.
| Option | Condition | General threshold | Going-rate figure | Higher of the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Standard | £41,700 | £33,400 (100%) | £41,700 |
| B | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £37,500 | Not applicable | – |
| C | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £33,400 | Not applicable | – |
| D | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) | £33,400 | Not applicable | – |
| E | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career | £33,400 | £33,400 (70%) | £33,400 |
| Option | Condition | General threshold | Going-rate figure | Higher of the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Standard | £31,300 | £25,400 (100%) | £31,300 |
| G | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £28,200 | Not applicable | – |
| H | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £25,000 | Not applicable | – |
| I | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) | £25,000 | Not applicable | – |
| J | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career | £25,000 | £25,000 (70%) | £25,000 |
Job titles under SOC 3229
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Advocates (excludes solicitor advocates)
- Celebrants
- Charity workers
- Day care officers
- Health advisers
- Homelessness and housing advice support workers
- Mental health project workers
- Probation service workers
- Student support workers
- Victim support workers
- Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (8)
- Advocacy worker
- Health coordinator
- Homeless prevention officer
- Key worker (welfare services)
- Outreach worker (welfare services)
- Probation services officer
- Project worker (welfare services)
- Student support officer
What the job involves
Job holders in this unit group provide pastoral care relating to religious denominations, student support (from 15 years of age), and a variety of welfare-related services including advice on benefits, health, disability and residential care not elsewhere classified in minor group 322: Welfare and housing associate professionals.
Typical tasks
- Advises on rights and entitlements in relation to benefits, health, discrimination and welfare
- Advises individuals and families experiencing problems about available resources to assist them
- Assists and liaises with professionals in social work, the probation service and related welfare areas
- Organises day, residential and home care services
- Helps to put together care plans and follows professional’s care plans
- Maintains records and compiles reports on clients
- Keeps up to date with legislation
- Performs pastoral care duties, preaches sermons and conducts some services in accordance with the relevant faith or denomination
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entry is possible with a variety of academic qualifications and/or experience. Professional qualifications may be required for some posts. Background checks including a DBS check are likely to be required for those working with vulnerable adults and/or families.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3229
Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified” (SOC 3229). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break. SOC 2020 code 3229 (Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations: only for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List.
What is SOC code 3229?
3229 is the SOC 2020 code for Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified. Job holders in this unit group provide pastoral care relating to religious denominations, student support (from 15 years of age), and a variety of welfare-related services including advice on benefits, health, disability and residential care not elsewhere classified in minor group 322: Welfare and housing associate professionals.
What is the going rate for SOC code 3229?
Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £33,400 a year (£17.13 an hour) for 3229, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 3229?
GOV.UK lists: Advocates (excludes solicitor advocates), Celebrants, Charity workers, Day care officers, Health advisers, Homelessness and housing advice support workers, Mental health project workers, Probation service workers, Student support workers, Victim support workers, Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes (GOV.UK, updated 29 April 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups
Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice. Report an error on this page.