Discretionary Housing Payments

A discretionary housing payment (DHP) is a short term payment awarded to people who need help paying their rent.

Entitlement to claim DHP

To claim DHP you must be entitled to

• Housing Benefit or
• a housing cost element as part of your Universal Credit award.

You must also show that you are unable to pay your rent.

An award is payable for a period of 6 or 12 months, depending on your circumstances.

You may also qualify if

• there has been a reduction in your housing benefit/housing cost element of your Universal Credit award to the local housing allowance (LHA) shared room rate.
• the LHA rate does not cover the cost of your rent.
• you are having difficulty making ends meet due to an illness affecting a member of the household.
• a reduction in your housing benefit/housing cost element of your Universal Credit award, for example, sons and daughters who are over 18 and working.
• if there is a reduction in your housing benefit/housing cost element of your Universal Credit as you have income over the threshold of £283.71 for a single person or £423.46 for a couple/family and the benefit cap has been applied.

When you cannot claim DHP

You cannot get a payment towards your rent if you receive

• full Housing Benefit or
• the housing cost element of your Universal Credit pays your full rent costs.

A DHP cannot pay towards most service charges included in your rent liability.

Apply for DHP

• Application for Discretionary Housing Payments
  • Evidence of your expenses and reason why you can't afford your rent are needed.
  • We may write to you for further information before making a decision on your application.

The council has limited funds for DHP. The amount you receive will depend on your disposable income. Due to limited funds being available the award may not meet the full shortfall beween your rent costs and Housing Benefit/Housing Cost Element of your Universal Credit award.