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Discretionary Housing Benefit Payments
What are Discretionary Housing Payments?
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are not payment of benefit.
DHPs are short-term emergency payments. You have no statutory right to receive a DHP as they are awarded at our discretion.
Who is eligible for a DHP?
Discretionary Housing Payments are available to claimants who:
- are entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (or both); and
- appear to us to need some further financial assistance to meet housing costs.
What can DHPs be used for?
DHPs can be used for various things, for example:
- if you get Housing Benefit but the amount you receive each week is less than your rent because of a rent restriction, we may be able to award a DHP to contribute towards the shortfall; or
- if you get Council Tax benefit but there is a shortfall (due to a non-dependant deduction) between the amount you are entitled to and your liability, we may be able to award a DHP to contribute towards the shortfall.
What can't DHPs be used for?
DHPs cannot be used to pay for:
- ineligible service charges e.g. heating, hot water or water rates;
- support charges e.g. counselling and support or emergency alarm systems;
- rent payments because you are not eligible for Housing Benefit; or
- reductions in your benefit due to deductions from your Jobseekers allowance.
How much will I get?
We cannot guarantee a payment or advise how much you will get if you are successful.
DHP awards depend on your circumstances and the evidence you supply.
We make payments for various periods of time but we do not normally pay for periods longer than 52 weeks.
Who can apply?
Anyone who receives Housing and/or Council Tax benefit and who has a shortfall between their rental/Council Tax liability and their benefit entitlement.
How do I apply?
You can:
- complete a DHP application form; or
- write to us explaining your circumstances and why you need further financial assistance; include a detailed breakdown of your weekly expenditure; and
- supply any evidence you think may support your case.
Forms can be obtained by:
Who can I contact if I need help completing a form?
If you need help completing a DHP application form you can contact us or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
What happens when you receive my request for a DHP?
A Senior Benefits Officer will consider your circumstances.
So that we can understand your situation we may ask you to come for an interview at our offices.
To help us decide whether we can award a DHP we look at various things, for example:
- your weekly household income and expenditure;
- any savings and capital you and/or your family may have;
- the difference between the rent you pay and the amount of Housing Benefit you receive;
- whether you and/or your family have any special circumstances e.g. ill health or disability; and
- whether you and/or your family are in debt.
We consider the merits of each case on a strictly individual basis.