Discretionary Housing Payment

Discretionary Housing Payment- DHP - How do I claim a Discretionary Housing Payment?

How do I claim a Discretionary Housing Payment? A claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment is different to a claim for Housing Benefit.

You should ask your local authority how to make a claim. They may accept claims in writing, over the telephone or electronically.

You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the GOV.UK website

What documents will I need to claim a Discretionary Housing Payment?

Each local authority will have its own claim form but the following documents will usually be required to support a claim.

your most recent payslip if you are working
your partner's most recent payslip (if you have a partner and they are working)
bank account statements covering the last two months (and partner's)
proof of any loan or credit-card or hire-purchase repayment agreements
any letters you have received from the landlord about rent arrears
proof of any expenses that are especially high
if you are ill recent medical evidence

When will my Discretionary Housing Payment claim begin?

There are no rules on backdating. It is up to your local authority whether any award will be backdated and for how long.

Change of circumstances

You are required to notify your local authority of any changes of circumstances which may be relevant to you continuing to receive Discretionary Housing Payments. You will be told about the changes you should report. Can I get a Discretionary Housing Payment?

A Discretionary Housing Payment is for people in need of extra financial assistance on top of their Housing Benefit.

You must be entitled to Housing Benefit or the Housing Costs element of Universal Credit to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Your local authority will decide how to treat any income or other resources you have.

The Government has increased the funding given to Local Authorities for Discretionary Housing Payments to help people affected by the Benefit Cap and other Housing Benefit changes. Specifically the following groups of people:

Those in temporary accommodation
Individuals or families fleeing domestic violence
Those with kinship care responsibilities
Those who cannot move immediately for reasons of health, education or child protection
Households moving to more appropriate accommodation
Households having difficulty finding more appropriate accommodation
Disabled people living in significantly adapted accommodation
Approved or prospective adoptive parents or foster carers.

Once your local authority has spent its budget (provided by the Government) it cannot award any more payments for that financial year. They cannot help everyone so decisions about priority have to be made.

How much Discretionary Housing Payment will I get?

Your local authority will decide whether to award a Discretionary Housing Payment, how much to award, and for how long.

The amount you get could cover all or part of your shortfall in rent or the costs of taking up a tenancy.

Benefit Cap

A Discretionary Housing Payment is not included in the Benefit Cap which limits the total amount in some benefits that working-age people can receive.

See our Benefit Cap guide for more details.

How will I be paid a Discretionary Housing Payment?

The payment could be made to you or direct to your landlord.

There is no limit to length of time over which Discretionary Housing Payments can be made. It could be a one-off or an indefinite award.