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Benefits

Benefits

Discretionary Housing Payments

What are discretionary payments?

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP's) provide additional financial support to help with rent or housing costs. To be eligible for this additional help, you must already be receiving Housing Benefit or have the Housing Element included in your Universal Credit. Applications will not be accepted if you are not receiving one of these benefits.

Discretionary Housing Payments are designed to cover some or all of the shortfall between the help you already get and the amount of rent you have to pay. Discretionary payments can help you if:

  • you are struggling to pay your rent

  • you have other circumstances that are causing you hardship

  • you are finding it difficult because of the under-occupation or benefit cap rules

  • the Housing Element of Universal Credit does not cover your full housing costs.

A Discretionary Housing Payment cannot help towards:

  • Rent in advance or a deposit for a new tenancy if you do not have a current recognised rental liability which means you are receiving housing-related benefits (for example: if you are living with family or friends, or 'sofa surfing')

  • Council Tax payments you may have to make

  • amounts for ineligible service charges within your rent, such as heating, water or lighting

  • an amount being recovered from your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payments towards repaying a previous overpayment

  • an amount being deducted towards a benefit sanction

  • white goods, furniture, flooring.

The payments are discretionary which means making an application does not definitely mean you will get help.

How do we work out your award?

There are only limited funds available which means if we can help you, it is usually only for a short period of time. Any award is determined based on your individual circumstances and the level of income you have left after considering your essential expenditure. Several factors are taken into account before a Discretionary Housing Payment award can be made:

  • income

  • savings

  • other people in your home

  • your loans and debts

  • your money managing skills

  • illness or disability in your household

  • your efforts to improve your situation.

A Discretionary Housing Payment can only be considered when you are already receiving Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit.

What to do if you disagree with a decision

When a decision has been made following your application for a Discretionary Housing Payment, we will notify you of the outcome in writing. You can ask the council to review its decision if you disagree with it.

This request must be in writing, including reasons, within one month of the decision notice. You do not have the right of appeal following a Discretionary Housing Payment decision.

How to apply

If you do not receive Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit, please do not complete a Discretionary Housing Payment application form as a DHP cannot be considered.

If you are not sure if you should complete a form, please contact us on 01480 388308 or email benefit@huntingdonshire.gov.uk 

Complete and submit the online application form and provide any supporting evidence requested.

Discretionary Housing Payment Application Form

Additional help

You can get free, independent advice about rent problems from various local agencies:

And national agencies:

Further support may be available from:

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