Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

What a Discretionary Housing Payment is

If you claim Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and it falls short of your rent, a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) can top it up. It is not a benefit in its own right. It is a pot of money your local council holds from central government and hands out at its own discretion, which means the rules are softer than for most benefits — but the decisions are also less predictable.

Because each council gets a fixed annual budget, the pot can run dry. If you think you need help, applying early in the financial year — from April onwards — gives you the best chance of the money still being there.

Who can apply

You must be entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. If you get Universal Credit and your housing costs are paid as part of it, you still qualify. Beyond that, most applications come from:

• Tenants hit by the under-occupation deduction, often called the bedroom tax.
• People whose benefit has been capped by the benefit cap.
• Families affected by the two-child limit or a non-dependant deduction.
• Private renters facing a shortfall between their rent and the Local Housing Allowance rate for their area.
• People facing one-off costs such as rent in advance or a deposit to move somewhere cheaper or escape a crisis.

You can apply whether you rent privately, from a council or from a housing association. Homeowners are generally excluded, though there are narrow exceptions for some shared ownership and supported housing arrangements.

What a DHP can and cannot pay for

A DHP is aimed at housing costs, so it can help with the gap between your rent and what your benefit covers. Councils also have some flexibility to pay rent in advance or a deposit to help you secure a new tenancy, usually where moving makes your housing more affordable or moves you on from temporary accommodation.

What it will not usually cover:

• Council Tax — that is handled through Council Tax Reduction or a separate discretionary relief scheme.
• Water, gas, electricity and other utility bills.
• Food, travel or general living costs.
• Any shortfall where you are not entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs in the first place.
• Ongoing shortfalls the council believes you could reasonably reduce by moving, taking in a lodger or negotiating with your landlord.

It will also not usually clear rent arrears that built up while you had enough income to pay, though councils can be persuaded where the cause was a benefit delay or an official error.

How much you might get, and for how long

There is no set amount. Awards are short-term — commonly three to six months, occasionally up to a year — and are usually paid into your rent account or directly to your landlord. Some councils make a single lump-sum payment; others pay weekly or monthly alongside your benefit.

Expect the council to look at your whole financial picture: income, essential outgoings, savings, who else lives with you, and whether your home is reasonable in size and cost. A DHP is meant to be a bridge, not a permanent subsidy, so it helps to show how you will manage once the award ends — a move planned, a job starting, or a debt being cleared.

How to apply and what to send

Most councils let you apply online, and you can usually request a paper form by phone or from a customer service point. Put as much evidence in with the form as you can, because missing evidence is the most common reason applications drag on.

• Proof of your tenancy, such as a tenancy agreement or a recent rent statement.
• Evidence of the shortfall — a benefit award letter alongside a rent statement usually works.
• Recent bank statements for all accounts, showing income and outgoings.
• Details of debts, arrears or essential costs such as childcare or medical needs.
• Medical or support evidence if your health, disability or caring responsibilities make moving harder.
• A short explanation in your own words of what has changed and what will happen if you do not get help.

Decision times vary, but a fortnight to six weeks is typical. If you are at risk of eviction or homelessness, say so clearly on the form — it should speed up the assessment and may trigger extra duties on the council.

If your application is refused

A refusal is not always the end of the matter. Ask for the decision to be reconsidered, in writing, and set out what you think the council missed: a medical condition, an imminent eviction, a child's schooling, or a benefit delay that caused the shortfall. Councils must take all relevant circumstances into account, including their public sector equality duty.

If the review still goes against you, you can complain through the council's formal complaints process and then, if unresolved, take it to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Separately, ask a local advice service or your council's housing options team about other support: negotiating a rent arrears repayment plan, a homelessness application, help from the Household Support Fund, or a check that your benefit is being calculated correctly, including whether the right Local Housing Allowance rate is being used. And if the shortfall looks likely to last, it is worth asking whether moving somewhere more affordable would put you on firmer ground.