You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if:
- you have a shortfall between the amount of Housing Benefit awarded to you and the amount you need to pay for your rent
- you are a Universal Credit claimant and the amount of the housing element is less than you need to pay for your rent
A DHP is not a benefit - it is an emergency payment.
The DHP budget is limited and set by central government. We must make sure that the DHP budget is shared between all applicants, and that it reaches those who are in most need. This means that even though you might be facing difficulties there may be others who are applying who need support more.
We cannot guarantee long-term DHP support, as the budget is set on a year-by-year basis and the number of applications varies due to changing economic and social factors.
Your DHP application is not just about applying for financial assistance, it is an opportunity to provide us with a full picture of your circumstances so we can see if there are other ways in which the difference between rent and benefit can be addressed. It's therefore important that you provide as much information as possible with your application.
You'll need to provide the following evidence in support of your application:
- 2 months' bank statements for all accounts you hold
- proof of any rental arrears
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and are applying for extra help with your housing costs:
- proof of your Universal Credit award (this can be a screen shot of your Journal)
- proof of your rent if you are a private tenant
- proof of income for any other adults living in your household
- details of any plans you have to improve your circumstances
- full details of household income and expenditure
We strongly suggest you gather the required information and documentation ahead of completing the form, as it's not possible to save a partially completed form, nor to retrieve information if the time out period is reached.
If you have any queries or concerns with the completion of your DHP application, you can contact our Benefits Team to arrange an appointment to discuss the application in detail. If necessary an in-person appointment can be arranged at West Offices.
Our DHP policy
Download our DHP Policy and Guidance for more information about how Discretionary Housing Payments work.