Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
What is the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme (DHP)?
Housing Benefit is not always enough for you to be able to pay your rent. Your Council Tax Benefit may still leave you struggling to pay your Council Tax. If you have unusual or extreme circumstances which are causing hardship or mean that you're at risk of becoming homeless, we may be able to help.
There is a scheme that can help in difficult situations. It's called Discretionary Housing Payments.
It's not part of the normal Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit schemes. As the name suggests, we make payments at our discretion.
There are no rules that give anyone a right to a payment, but we may be able to pay you Discretionary Housing Payments if we believe that you need extra financial support.
There is a legal limit on the amount each council can pay each year for people in their area.
See the council's policy document about Discretionary Housing Payments.
The pages below explain the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme.
Contents of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
- What is the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme (DHP)? (this page)
- Who could get a Discretionary Housing Payment?
- When we can pay Discretionary Housing Payments
- When we wouldn't help
- How to apply
- If you apply
- What to do if you're not satisfied
