Eligibility for discretionary housing payments (DHPs)
Discretionary housing payments are payments that can be awarded in addition to your Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.
DHPs are awarded from a cash limited budget where we consider additional help is needed.
DHPs can be awarded for the following:
- rent deposit and/or rent in advance for a property you are yet to move into
- shortfall in rent and/or rent arrears.
Please note:
- We cannot award DHPs to help with ineligible amounts included in your rent, for example, certain service charges, gas, electric, food and water rates.
- DHPs are not available to help with any shortfall in council tax reduction.
Eligibility for help
You can only receive a DHP towards your rent if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with a housing element.
You will have to demonstrate that due to your personal circumstances you need extra help with your housing costs.
Qualifying for a payment
You can qualify for a discretionary housing payment if:
- you have unavoidable extra expenses due to short term illness or significant health problems
- you have had, or are having difficulty paying your rent
- Local housing allowance does not cover your full rent
- your income (benefit) has reduced due to the benefit cap
- you are receiving less Housing Benefit because you are under occupying your property
- your choice of housing was beyond your control due to urgency or special needs
- when you moved into the property you could afford the rent but your circumstances changed and you cannot move until your tenancy ends
This list is a guide only and will not cover all circumstances. Each case is considered individually.
Rent deposit and advance payment
We require that:
- applications for rent deposit and/or rent in advance are made prior to the expected move-in date
- you are entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with a Housing element at your current property.
Other factors
We also look at other factors such as:
- the amount of savings you have
- can anyone in the household provide financial help?
- whether you have debts
- have you chosen to rent an expensive property without the means to pay the rent?
- have you tried to renegotiate the rent with the landlord?