What if my benefit does not cover my rent or council tax?

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If the amount of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you are entitled to is not enough to pay your full rent or council tax bill, you can apply for extra short term help with your housing costs.

The Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme has a limited amount of money each year and is therefore only awarded to customers with special circumstances.

Awards are only given for a short term period to help you through a specific financial crisis. An example of when DHP might be awarded is when a change in circumstances (such as a divorce) has left you in a rental property that is not fully covered by your Housing Benefit. In this case you may be awarded a short term top up to your Housing Benefit to enable you to find and move into a more affordable property.

There is no appeal against a DHP decision. As with any other benefit award, if there has been a change to your circumstances since DHP was awarded, you are responsible for telling us as soon as possible to prevent any overpayment of benefit

Who qualifies?

To be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with your rent you must already be in receipt of Housing Benefit.

To be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with your Council Tax you already be in receipt of Council Tax Benefit (not including Second Adult Rebate).

Application form

To apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment please complete the Discretionary Housing Payment application Discretionary Housing Payment application 126kb and return it to your local council office. Please make sure that you include as much information as possible about why you need this extra help.

For more information please read our DHP policy, contact us or download the guide to discretionary housing payments leaflet at www.benefits-leaflets.org

Last updated: 23 January 2012