All About Benefits

What are Discretionary Housing Payments?

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are a top-up to benefit, and are available if we consider that someone needs extra help with their housing costs. Any payment awarded is made in addition to any Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit that has been awarded. We only have a certain amount of money to spend on these payments, so the application form will help us to decide if a DHP can be made to you.

Discretionary Housing Payments are only available as short-term assistance, not a long-term solution.

What can Discretionary Housing Payments cover?

  Discretionary Housing Payments can cover:

• a shortfall between your Housing Benefit award and your rent
• a shortfall between your Council Tax Benefit award and your Council Tax liability.

Discretionary Housing payments cannot cover:

• increases in rent due to rent arrears
• any shortfall between Second Adult Rebate and Council Tax liability
• benefit that has been suspended because you have failed to supply the information necessary for your claim
• any reduction in benefit as a result of non-attendance at a work-focused interview, a Job Seekers Allowance employment sanction or failure to comply with the Child Support Agency in arranging maintenance
• charges for water and sewerage.

Who can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment?

To be eligible for a DHP, you must be receiving Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, and you must satisfy us that you require further help with your housing costs, by providing proof of your income and expenditure.

You cannot apply if you do not receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. Please note that if you are getting Housing Benefit but do not get Council Tax Benefit you will not be able to get assistance with your Council Tax. If you are getting Council Tax Benefit but do not get Housing Benefit you will not be able to get assistance with your rent costs. You will not be able to get a DHP if you are already getting full benefit.

How can I apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment?

You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment by completing the Discretionary Housing Payment Application Form. You will need to send this into us with as much supporting evidence as possible.

Funds for DHPs are limited, so not all applications will be successful. If the application is from someone acting on your behalf, please make this clear on the form.

How will it be paid?

Payment will be made along with your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

It will normally start from the Monday following receipt of your application.

What do I do if my circumstances change?

You must inform us as soon as possible if your circumstances change. We may need to revise your DHP award where your circumstances have changed. If the change means that you have received monies to which you are not entitled you may be asked to pay it back.

Examples of changes in income and family circumstances:

• when Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance stops or starts
• when you move address
• when you have any changes in your income or savings (up or down)
• when someone moves in or out of your home.

This list cannot cover everything. If you don't know whether a change in your circumstances will affect your DHP award, please tell us anyway.

What should I do if I don't agree with your decision?

Discretionary Housing Payments are made outside of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit scheme and therefore there are no statutory appeal rights. However, if you disagree with the decision you can write and ask us to look at your application again. You must contact us within one month of the date on the decision letter, giving the reasons why you disagree. You can phone, write to us or visit us and ask us to explain the decision and/or request a written statement of reasons, which will show more information about the decision. Initially the Benefits Manager will consider such requests.