Discretionary Housing Payments

What is a Discretionary Housing Payment?

A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is an extra amount of money that the Council can give you to help you pay your rent or your Council Tax.

DHPs are not benefits. No one has an automatic right to a payment. They are awarded at the discretion of the Council. The details below explain when a DHP may be awarded.

Can I get a Discretionary Housing Payment?

DHPs can only be paid to people who are already getting some housing benefit or council tax benefit. If you are getting the maximum amount of benefit, you will not be able to get any extra help. DHPs cannot be awarded to help you pay for non-rent charges like water rates and service charges or to "top-up" Council Tax benefit awarded under the Second Adult rebate scheme.

If you make a claim for a DHP you will have to explain why you think you need extra help with your rent or Council Tax. You must show us that you or your family will suffer hardship if you do not get this extra help. We will also ask you to explain what other action you are taking to prevent you or your family suffering hardship. For example, if you are paying a high rent you will be expected to look for a cheaper place to live.

How much will I get?

There is no fixed rate for a discretionary housing payment. The level of payment is something we will decide when we are looking at an individual claim.

The Government has set a limit on the total amount the Council can spend on DHPs. When we receive a claim we have to think about how much money is available and how many people in this Borough may need extra help.

A DHP is paid for a limited period of time to give people the chance to find other ways of reducing their housing costs.

How do I make a claim?

We have a special form for claiming a DHP. If you would like to apply for DHP, you can complete an online form ,print the form Discretionary housing payment claim form(pdf, 36KB) or please contact us and we will send a from to you

If you intend to print a form and return it to us you should read our Personal Information Policy before doing so.

We will look at your claim and consider all of the information and evidence you have provided. We will then write and tell you what our decision is. If you disagree with our decision you can ask us to look at your claim again.

The DHP form guidance notes(pdf, 20KB) for the form are also available. It is important that you read them.