Discretionary housing payments

What are Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP's)?

These are payments that we can make if your Housing or Council Tax Benefit is less then the full amount charged. We cannot, however, make a DHP to cover the cost of ineligible amounts included in your rent (i.e. things like fuel, water or food charges). In addition, DHP cannot be made for  Council Tax where Second Adult Rebate is in payment.

Who can claim a Discretionary Housing Payment?

Anyone who is in receipt of Housing Benefit can claim a DHP towards their rent. Anyone who is in receipt of Council Tax Benefit can claim a DHP towards their Council Tax. The Council must be satisfied that you need further help with housing costs.

The sort of things we would need to look at when deciding on a DHP are:
• Whether you have any savings (savings over £3000 would normally mean that you cannot get a DHP);
• Whether you could get help in cash or 'kind' from any other source;
• Whether anyone else in the house (such as non-dependants) are able to help financially;
• What assets you have which might be used to help meet the shortfall;
• Whether you have any outstanding loans or debts;
• Whether you could rearrange your finances to ease the situation (and whether you are currently receiving or have received any debt counselling);
• What your total income is - all income and all savings (including those partly or fully disregarded for Housing and Council Tax Benefit) will be taken into consideration.

How much could I get and for how long?

The Council cannot award a DHP for any period outside an existing HB/CTB benefit period granted under the HB/CTB statutory scheme, and the Council will not usually award a DHP for a period exceeding 6 months.

How are Discretionary Housing Payments paid?

Although DHP's are not payments of Housing/Council Tax Benefit, they will be paid together with Housing/Council Tax Benefit.  Council Tax DHP's will therefore be credited to your Council Tax account. All rent DHP's will be sent to either you or your landlord in the same way as your Housing Benefit payments.

How do I apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment?

You will need to make an application in writing. We will normally ask you to attend for interview to get all the information we need to decide on whether you can receive a DHP and to discuss your claim in more detail. If you will be attending a DHP interview and would like to complete a DHP expenditure request in advance you can download the document at the bottom of the page.

What about changes in my circumstances?

If your circumstances change you must notify the Council, in writing, within one month. We will look at the DHP that we awarded and see whether it needs to be changed. If you are entitled to less you may have to pay back some or all of the DHP we have paid.

What happens if I disagree with the amount or period of Discretionary Housing Payment?

If you disagree with our decision about the DHP you should write to us within one month of the date of the letter telling you about the DHP. An Officer will look at the decision and change it if they think it is wrong. We will then write to you and tell you the outcome. If we decide that we cannot change the original decision, you can request a further review by an independent Senior Officer appointed by the Corporate Director (Resources).