Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

Discretionary Housing Payments provide financial help with rent or housing costs.

You can claim if:

• you pay rent
• you already get Housing Benefits or the housing element of Universal Credit
• you are struggling to pay your rent even with Housing Benefit and Universal Credit

The payments are short-term to help pay rent and give you time to improve your circumstances. They can be awarded as a one-off payment or a series of payments.

You can apply for another Discretionary Housing Payment award once your payments end. 

How to apply

When you apply, you will need to upload with your application:

• a clear photograph of your documents (use a medium-sized image)
• details of your monthly income and outgoings

It is important that you give as much information as you can to help us make a decision. We make decisions on applications using our policy: 

Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment

For more information on how to complete the form see our:

Payments

The most you can receive is the difference between the benefits you are already receiving and your eligible rent charge. The DHP award depends on your circumstances and is based on the information provided. 

DHP payments are included with Housing Benefit payments.

Universal Credit DHP payments are normally paid to the person making the application, unless:

• there are rent arrears 
• the housing element of Universal Credit is paid directly to the Landlord (known as APA) 

In these instances, DHP payments are paid to the Landlord.  

Change of circumstances

You must let us know of any changes in circumstances as this could affect your payment. 

What a DHP can cover

We can award a Discretionary Housing Payment if: 

• there is a shortfall (difference) between your rent and the amount of your Housing Benefit award or housing element of Universal Credit
• where Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit have been reduced due to the Benefit Cap
• households have a spare room in the house they are renting (often referred to as the ‘bedroom tax’)
• if you are under 35, rent a one-bedroom property and your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element is restricted to a shared room rate

We may be able to award a Discretionary Housing Payment for the following (although not often, due to funding and policy): 

• rent in advance or deposit if a referral is received via Housing to prevent homelessness 
• rent arrears 
• non-dependant deductions 

What a DHP cannot cover

We cannot award Discretionary Housing Benefit for:

• Council Tax 
• ineligible service charges included in the rent, for example, water rates, heating or meals
• increases to rent to cover rent arrears which are not eligible for Housing Benefit 
• reduction in any benefits due to a recovery of an overpayment 

If you don’t have a local connection and you’ve not lived in the borough for 6 months or more, Discretionary Housing Payment is likely to be turned down. This is a local policy.

Length of award 

Awards are granted for a limited period. This can be for 13 or 26 weeks, depending on the circumstances. This is to allow you time to look at:

• finding work or increasing hours of work 
• alternative accommodation, housing advice or options 
• other health benefits (for example, DLA, PIP or the health element of Universal Credit 
• formalising maintenance 
• managing debts 
• budgeting 

Appeals

You are unable to appeal against a Discretionary Housing Payment decision. This is because Discretionary Housing Payments are not benefits.

You do have the right to ask us to look at the decision again.

If you want us to review our decision you should:

• write to us within 1 month of the date on the decision letter
• give your reasons why

If you are writing later than 1 month from the date on the decision letter, you need to give a reason.