Discretionary Payments
What is Discretionary Housing Payment?
The Council can award a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) where someone needs extra help with their ‘housing costs’. DHPs are not Housing or Council Tax Benefit, but you must be in receipt of one or both of these benefits to be able to claim.
DHPs can be awarded to top up Housing or Council Tax Benefit, but the total amount cannot be more than your rent liability for Housing Benefit, or the amount of Council Tax you have to pay.
The amount of the DHP award depends on the your individual circumstances, and you must demonstrate that you are suffering from financial hardship due to the shortfall in your benefits. The award is intended as a short-term measure to alleviate poverty or difficult circumstances and should not be relied upon in the long term.
The funding for DHPs comes from Central Government and is limited each year, so when it has been spent no more awards can be made.
How do I apply for a DHP?
Claims can be made by telephone call, visit to the counter or written letter, although completion of the official form is required. The forms are available to download in Adobe PDF format from the ‘Downloads’ tab above.
