Discretionary Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) assist people who need extra help to pay their rent when Housing Benefit or Universal Credit does not cover the full amount.
If you are suffering severe financial hardship or your tenancy is at risk, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to help you.
We have a limited amount of money to make these payments and can only make payments to those in greatest need.
Eligibility
You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help pay your rent if:
- you are already getting Housing Benefit.
- your Housing Benefit is less than your full rent (apart from costs like heating or water, which it doesn’t cover).
- you have an award of Universal Credit (UC) that includes a housing element.
Housing costs usually mean rent, but they can also include other expenses such as:
- rent in advance
- deposits
- lump sum costs associated with housing needs such as removal costs
Before you apply:
- talk to your landlord to see if you can pay a lower rent
- see if you can find a cheaper place to live
- get advice from other organisations about how you can improve your situation.
What's covered
You may be able to get help if you:
- have extra costs, like someone in hospital.
- you’re suffering hardship after losing your job or benefits.
- are at risk of the loss of your home where we feel the award of a DHP would prevent this
- receive benefits that have been reduced by the bedroom tax and you need support to move to a smaller home.
- are vulnerable, such as a care leaver or a person affected by domestic abuse.
The following things will be looked at when making a decision:
- the shortfall between Housing Benefit and the rental liability
- any steps taken by the claimant to reduce the rental liability
- if a member of the household has a disability and has the accommodation been adapted to meet their needs
- the health and disability of the claimant, their partner, and other household members.
- if the claimant moved to the address to assist with care
- the money coming in and going out for the claimant, their partner, and anyone else living in their home.
- any savings or capital that you might hold
- the level of indebtedness of the claimant or their family
- the exceptional nature of the claimant and family's circumstances
- if the applicant provides accommodation for foster children
- hardship suffered by the claimant
- if the individual is fleeing domestic abuse or violence
- if children are near the age limits, at which they would qualify for their own room
- what might happen to the Council if the award isn’t given—for example, more pressure on emergency housing.
- if help required to secure new affordable accommodation eg rent in advance or a bond
- consideration will to the long term affordability of a tenancy
- any other special circumstances
What's not covered
This extra payment is not available for the following purposes:
- to help with Council Tax
- service or support charges not covered by housing benefit
- to cover a shortfall in Housing Benefit caused by recovering an overpayment
- to pay a rent that is clearly excessive
- to cover an increase in your rent due to outstanding rent arrears
- to cover benefit reductions such as penalties for fraud or sanctions
- if your Universal Credit does not include a housing element
Length of award
Discretionary Housing Payments are usually short-term help with rent.
If you still need help after your payments end you will need to reapply.
It usually starts from the Monday after we receive your written claim, but it can be backdated in some cases.
If you want to find out more about claiming a DHP contact us.
Change of circumstances
If you claim housing benefit and something in your life changes, you must write to tell us. Even if you tell the Department for Work and Pensions, you still need to tell the Housing Benefit team too.
The following are examples of changes you must report:
- you stop or start to receive income support / job seekers allowance
- you stop or start work
- your household changes (for example, if someone moves in or out)
- you leave the property
- the amount of your savings and investments changes
- you have a change in income
- someone who lives with you (like a grown-up son or daughter) has a change in their money. This person is called a ‘non-dependent’.
This is not a full list. Lots of other changes in your life can also change your benefit.
If something changes and you’re not sure, tell the Benefits team. We will check and let you know.
You must write to us about any changes. But you can call the Benefits team first to tell us what’s changed.
Make an application
You need to include details of your :
- income
- expenditure
- any other relevant information
Applications forms are also available from the Benefits Section.
What happens next
We will tell you the result within 14 days of getting all the information we need, or as soon as possible after that.
If we decide that we can make a payment, we will write to tell you how much you will be paid and for how long.
If we decide that we can't make a payment, we will write and tell you the reasons for our decision.
Request a review
If you don’t agree with our decision, you can ask us to review the decision.
The request must be made in writing by the person who applied for the Discretionary Housing Payment (or their appointee).
You must send your request within one calendar month of the date on your decision letter.
An independent officer will look at your case again and let you know the outcome.
Contact us
Online
You can contact us online for help or advice about Housing Benefit or Council Tax support.
In person
- by visiting the benefit section at one of our customer service centres in:
- Neath Civic Centre, Neath, SA11 3QZ
- Port Talbot Civic Centre, Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ
Email and telephone
Our phone lines are open from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
