A Discretionary Housing Payment can provide extra financial help towards your rent if you are experiencing temporary difficulties or periods of hardship.
Criteria
You must:
- be receiving Housing Benefit or have been paid the Housing Cost Element of Universal Credit based on your income and circumstances,
- explain what other options you have considered to try and meet the shortfall.
Conditionality
These are the actions it is reasonable to expect you to take to avoid needing a Discretionary Housing Payment long term. These will be explained in your notification letter.
Repeat applications may be considered when more time is needed if reasonable explanations are provided.
Making our decision
We look at:
- your household’s income, savings, expenses, and any debts
- the help you receive for rent compared to what you are required to pay
- any illness or disability withing your household that makes moving to a more affordable home difficult
- if you have been affected by the benefit cap
- if your property is too big for your household but there are reasons why you need the extra bedrooms
- situations beyond your control affecting your circumstances
How to apply
Please fill out the form below:
Some parts of the form ask you to explain your circumstances. Tell us as much as you can to help us decide if we can make a payment.
We need you to tell us about the money you pay out and any debts you have. If the form is incomplete, we will not have enough information to make a decision and your application may be refused.
What happens when you've applied
We may contact you to discuss your application. If we call you it will show as an ‘unknown number’. If we cannot contact you by phone, we will try to email you so please check your emails including your junk mail. If we are unable to contact, you this will delay our decision