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Discretionary Housing Payment

Discretionary housing payments

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are payments that can be awarded if your housing or council tax benefit is less than the amount you are being charged for rent or council tax.

They are not payments of housing or council tax benefit. DHPs are awarded from a cash limited budget, at the discretion of your local council, where we consider additional help is needed. We cannot award DHPs to help with ineligible amounts included in your rent e.g. certain service charges, gas, electric, food, water rates etc. or for rent increases due to rent arrears

Eligibility for help

You can only receive a DHP towards your rent if you are receiving housing benefit and you can only receive a DHP towards your council tax if you are receiving council tax benefit. You can receive DHPs towards both your rent and council tax liabilities.

Additionally, you need to demonstrate that due to your personal circumstances you need extra help with your housing costs

We can pay up to the difference between your housing benefit and your rent or your council tax benefit and your council tax. The amount and length of award will depend on your circumstances and the amount of money we have available.

Qualifying for DHP

You have unavoidable extra expenses due to short term illness or significant health problems
You are having difficulty paying your rent whilst you look for cheaper accommodation
The Local Housing Allowance does not cover your full rent
Your choice of housing was beyond your control due to urgency or special needs
You have unusual or special circumstances
When you moved into the property you could afford the rent but your circumstances changed and you cannot move until your tenancy ends

This list is a guide only and will not cover all circumstances. Each case is considered on it’s merits. We also look at other factors such as :

Do you have savings?
Can anyone in the household provide financial help?
Do you have other debts?
Have you chosen to rent an over-expensive property without the means to pay the rent?
Did you obtain a pre-tenancy determination before you moved into the property?
Have you tried to re-negotiate the rent with the landlord?

DHP payment

If rent is paid to a private landlord or housing association, the DHP would be included in housing benefit payments. DHPs towards council tax are paid onto the council tax account.

If you are awarded a DHP, you would be advised of the amount, and when payments would commence. If your circumstances changed and you were overpaid, you would be expected to repay the overpayment. It is very important therefore, that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances which may decrease your award, e.g increase in income, change in household composition, change of rental liability/address etc., so we can avoid overpaying you.