What are Discretionary Housing Payments?
If you are getting Housing or Council Tax Benefit, you could apply for additional help from the Discretionary Housing Payments fund. This is a special, cash limited fund to help those who need extra help with their housing costs.
When we can make a Discretionary Housing Payment
Each case is looked at on its own merits and awards are at the discretion of the Council.
Examples of when we might make an award are:
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if the rent used to calculate Housing Benefit has been restricted
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if you are not getting full Housing Benefit because your income is too high
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if you are not getting full Council Tax Benefit because your income is too high
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if you are not getting full Housing or Council Tax benefit because you have non dependants
When we can't make a Discretionary Housing Payment
We cannot award a Discretionary Housing Payment:
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for water, meals, fuel or other ineligible service charges included in your rent
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to cover any shortfall in Housing Benefit that occurs due to an overpayment being recovered
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to pay a rent that is clearly excessive
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for rent if you do not get Housing Benefit
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for Council Tax if you do not get Council Tax Benefit
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if there is no money left in the fund to do so
How are Discretionary Housing Payments paid?
Any Discretionary Housing Payment awarded for Council Tax will be credited directly to your Council Tax account.
Any Discretionary Housing Payment awarded for rent will be paid with your Housing Benefit.
How to apply for Discretionary Housing Payment
If you feel you need extra help with your housing costs please complete the Discretionary Housing Payment form in the online forms section of our Online Services or telephone us for more advice.
After the application is received by the Council
Successful applications
If we decide to award a Discretionary Housing Payment we will write to tell you how much will be paid and for how long. As the Discretionary Housing Payment fund is cash limited they are not usually awarded for long periods of time.
Unsuccessful applications
If we decide that we can't make a Discretionary Housing Payment we will write and tell you the reasons for our decision.
Disagreeing with the decision made
Any customer, disagreeing with the decision, should put their reasons in writing within 1 month of the decision. A longer period will be allowed if reasonable.
A different officer will look at the request, together with any new information provided, and inform you of their decision in writing. There are no further appeal rights for Discretionary Housing Payment awards.
