Discretionary Housing Payments

What are Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs)?
DHPs are extra payments we can give you if your Housing or Council Tax Benefit is less than the full amount of your rent or Council Tax. They are discretionary awards not benefit payments. The DHP fund is cash limited.

Who can get it?
You can only apply for DHP if you are currently entitled to Housing or Council Tax Benefit.

How do you decide if I can have a DHP?
Before making a decision we will look at:

  •    your total income
  •    your savings
  •    if anyone else in your house is able to help you
  •    if you have any loans or debts
  •    if you could manage your money better to ease the situation
  •    if you or anyone in your family is ill or disabled
  •    if you have tried to put the situation right yourself.

We will ask you to give us a lot of information, and if we need more we will write and ask for it. We must be satisfied that you need more help with your housing costs. If you have given us details about your health, or the health of anyone in your household, we may need to ask you to provide a letter from your doctor.

We cannot make Discretionary Housing Payments:

  • for service charges not covered by housing benefit
  • for any rent you owe
  • when your Housing or Council Tax Benefit payments are suspended
  • to cover a shortfall that is caused by the recovery of an overpayment of Housing or Council Tax Benefit
  • for rent, if you are only entitled to Council Tax benefit
  • for Council Tax, if you only get Housing Benefit
  • if the only benefit you get is Second Adult Rebate
  • if the limit set by the Government has been reached.

How much can I get and for how long?
 We look at each person's case individually. If we award you a DHP, the decision letter will also tell you the amount we will pay and how long we will pay it for. We cannot guarantee we will definitely give you a payment.

What can I do if I disagree with your decision.
If you disagree with our decision:

  • not to give you a DHP
  • the amount we have decided to give you, or
  • how long we will give you a DHP for

you can ask us to look at our decision again. You should write to us within one calendar month of the date on the decision letter telling us why you do not agree with our decision. You cannot appeal to the Tribunals Service if you disagree with our decision.

How will you pay the DHP if I get it?
We will usually pay it with any Housing or Council Tax Benefit you get, although a DHP is not a benefit payment.

What happens if my circumstances change?
If your circumstances change, you must write to us straight away. We will look at your DHP again to see if we need to change it. If the change means we have to reduce you DHP, you might have to pay back some or all of the DHP we have already paid you.

Please Remember: Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are intended as short term assistance while you find solutions to your financial situation.

PDF file Fill out a form (191KB - 03 October 2011 - PDF Help) if you want to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment or please contact us if you would like more information.

Page last updated on 3 October 2011