Housing and Council Tax Benefits
Discretionary Housing Payment
What is it?
A Discretionary Housing Payment is not a benefit payment. It is a separate payment on top of housing benefit and council tax benefit. Every year, we have a limited amount of money to help residents who need extra financial help to meet their housing and council tax costs.
- It can help to pay your maximum council tax and eligible rent - this means your rent less service charges like water rates, fuel charges, meals or rent arrears
- The total weekly amount of any award, including your housing benefit and council tax benefit, cannot be more than your actual eligible rent or actual council tax
Who can claim it?
It is available if you are already entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit, and you do not get the full amount of eligible rent or council tax paid because:
- Your income is too high to qualify for the full amount
- We are making a deduction from your benefit because of an adult living with you (your partner is not included); or
- The rent officer has told us your rent is too high
How you can claim it
You can claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment by:
- Writing to us
- Calling into our office where you can get help to fill in the form
- Asking us to visit you if you are unwell or unable to leave the house
- Getting independent advice and help from various agencies. We have given a list of Local Service Addresses
What information we need to know
You must tell us why you think you need extra help to meet your housing and council tax costs. Please include information such as:
- Any disabilities or illnesses you or a member of your family may have
- How your disability or illness may affect you financially (for example, extra costs) or prevent you from moving
- Income and spending, including debts
- Any change in your circumstances which makes it more difficult for you to meet the shortfall
- What would happen if you lost your home; or
- Any other special circumstances
We may ask to see any reasonable evidence to support your claim. Please give us all the information which will help your case.
How is it assessed?
We will look at your claim to see if we can make a payment. We look at each case individually based on each person's circumstances. We will write to you to tell you whether or not your claim has been successful.
We will tell you how much you will get and how long it will last for. We can only make the payment for a set period, but you can reapply when the payment stops.
How will it be paid?
We will pay it with your housing benefit or council tax benefit. This may be to you or to your landlord.
What if you disagree with our decision?
You do not have any right of appeal if we turn down your claim but you can ask us to look at the decision again. This is called a review.
Changes you must tell us about
You must tell us about anything you think might affect your entitlement to Discretionary Housing Payments or your entitlement to housing and council tax benefit. You must do this within 1 month of the change taking place. You must tell us about any changes in writing - a telephone call is not enough.
Extra benefits towards your rent and council tax 
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