What is Discretionary Housing Payment?
Discretionary Housing Payment is an extra payment that can be awarded by your local council to help towards housing costs. The payment is available for people who are not receiving enough to cover their rent.
The payment can help to cover:
- Rent in advance
- Deposits
- Shortfalls from existing housing support
Discretionary Housing Payments cannot cover costs for:
- Certain types of service charges (often called ‘ineligible charges’)
- Increased rent that covers repayments towards rent arrears
- A reduction in benefit due to sanctions, or where your benefit(s) have been suspended.
Can I get a Discretionary Housing Payment?
You might be awarded DHP if you're entitled to Housing Benefit, or the 'Housing Cost' element of Universal Credit and your local authority are satisfied that you need further financial assistance with housing costs.
You're more likely to be awarded if you fall into a priority group such as:
- People who are fleeing domestic violence
- Their child is at a critical point in their education
- Someone in the household is pregnant
- Families with social services intervention
- Households with a member the family who is disabled and unable to share a bedroom.
How do I apply?
Contact your local council for more information.
