Discretionary Housing Payment

Your local authority may give you a Discretionary Housing Payment under the following circumstances:

• You must have a live claim for housing costs

• If the local housing allowance you get is less than your rent in private rented property 

• You have non-dependant deductions/housing costs contributions and subsequently your Housing Benefit has been reduced 

• Your Housing Benefit is reduced because you are of working age and you have a spare bedroom in social rented property

• Your Housing Benefit has been reduced due to the Benefit Cap

• You need help to pay a rent deposit for a new home 

• You need help with removal costs, or rent in advance for a new home

A Discretionary Housing Payment will not be given in these situations:

• If you are in arrears with your rent and need help to cover the increase 

• Where an overpayment is being recovered from your Housing Benefit 

• Needed to cover certain sanctions or reductions of your benefit
  
  

The funding the local authorities receive from the government for Discretionary Housing Payments have increased to help those affected by the Benefit Cap and other Housing Benefit changes. In particular the following groups of people:

• If you are living in temporary accommodation

• An individual or a family fleeing domestic violence

• If you have kinship care responsibilities

• If you cannot move immediately for reasons of health, education or child protection

• A household having to  move to more appropriate accommodation

• Households having difficulty finding more appropriate accommodation

• A disabled person living in significantly adapted accommodation

• An approved or prospective adoptive parent or foster carer
  
  

Your local authority will make a discretionary decision and will have to prioritise those  decisions as they cannot help everyone. Once the local authority has spent its budget (provided by the Government) it cannot make any further awards during that financial year. 

The decision on whether to award, how much and for how long, is made by your local authority. They will also decide how to treat any income or other resources you may have. The amount you are awarded could cover all or part of your shortfall in rent or the costs of taking up a tenancy.

 Speak to your local authority about how to make a claim or visit their website. They may accept claims in writing, over the telephone or online. You will usually need to provide your national insurance number and/or your housing benefit claim number. if you claim housing benefit.

Each local authority will have its own claim form but the following documents will usually be needed  to support your claim:

• Recent payslips if you are employed

• Your partner's most recent payslip, if they are employed

• You and your partners bank statements covering the last two months

• Proof of any loan, credit-card or hire-purchase repayment agreements

• If you have rent arrears, any letters you have received from the landlord 

• Proof of any expenses that may be particularly high 

• Medical evidence if you are ill or disabled

Your spending is checked by the local authority to make sure that you are only spending on essential living costs. You may be refused DHP if your expenses are considered to be excessive or for non essential items. You may also be refused if it is obvious that you have an expensive addiction, such as gambling or alcoholism.

A Discretionary Housing Payment could be made to you or direct to your landlord. The payment could be a one-off, temporary period or an indefinite award. Your local authority will also decide whether to backdate or not and if so for how long.

A Discretionary Housing Payment will not count as income or capital when calculating your entitlement to means-tested benefits or Tax Credits.

Your local authority will inform you of the changes in circumstances that you are required to report to them.

The local authority will provide reasons for a DHP application refusal by letter, you will then have one month to ask for the decision to be revised. If you choose to ask for a revision, it is important to address the reasons stated for refusal. It is possible to have a DHP refusal overturned. There is no further right to challenge the local authority’s decision once a revision request has been refused.

If you are not successful, you can apply again at the start of the next financial year, providing you are still entitled to housing benefit or the housing costs element of universal credit.

If you require further advice or assistance on making a Discretionary Housing Payment claim, you should contact your nearest local advice agency.

You can also read the local authority guidelines for detailed information on how applications are assessed. You can also refer to the Discretionary Housing Payments guidance manual.