Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are additional payments available to you if you receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and we agree that you need extra help to pay your housing costs, such as rent or a rent deposit.
We choose whether or not to award these payments. They are only available as a short-term measure, and you will be expected to take appropriate action to improve your financial situation – this could include finding work or moving to more affordable accommodation.
To apply for a please complete our discretionary housing payment application form and send it to our Benefits team using the details below.
We determine Discretionary Housing Payments based on our DHP Policy, taking your circumstances into account.
There are no blanket provisions for including or excluding any relevant factor, whether financial, social or medical.
Once we’ve determined your application we’ll write to you to confirm our decision, including the reasons why we’ve approved or rejected it.
Please note – we do not include Disability Living Allowance (Mobility) or Personal Independence Payment (Mobility) when deciding an application for discretionary housing payment.
We cannot award discretionary housing payment:
If you qualify for DHP, we will pay this along with your Housing Benefit.
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, you will be paid every four weeks.
Discretionary housing payments can be paid either to you, your landlord or, in exceptional circumstances, to a third party at your request.
If your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit is paid direct to your landlord your DHP will be paid this way too.
If you are in arrears with your rent, your DHP will also go directly to your landlord to help secure your tenancy.
If we reject your application, or award you less DHP than expected, you can ask us to review our decision – write to or email us within one month of the date on our original decision letter, giving reasons why you disagree with our decision. Our Revenues and Benefit Client Manager will then review your application.
If, following the review, our decision remains the same, you can then ask for your case to be considered by a panel of councillors – you need to request this in writing within one month of the first review, giving reasons why you disagree with our decision. Please send your request to our Benefits team using the contact details below.
If you are still unhappy with our decision you can: