Discretionary Housing Payment

Discretionary Housing Payment is money you can apply for if your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit doesn’t cover all of your housing costs.

Find out if you can claim and how to apply.

Discretionary Housing Payment is additional money that can be paid to you if:

• you get money for housing costs included in your Universal Credit, or you get Housing Benefit

• and this isn't enough to meet the cost of your housing costs in full

Discretionary Housing Payment can be paid weekly, or can be a lump sum, it can also be backdated.

It might also be paid for

• rent arrears (if these were due to a shortfall between your benefits and the cost of your rent

• rent in advance

• rent deposit

Who can claim

Anyone who gets Housing Benefit or who gets housing costs as part of their Universal Credit can claim Discretionary Housing Payment.

It can't be used for:

• Council Tax

• if your financial need is only because you are repaying a benefit overpayment

• some service charges are excluded.

How to apply

You need to make your application to your local council. Most local councils have a way you can apply online on their website, or you can contact them by phone and ask how to make an application.

The council will assess and decide if you can receive a payment. They will usually take into account any special circumstances that contribute to your financial difficulties. When you apply its important to let the council know, for example:

• if you have been affected by the benefit cap

• if your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit doesn't cover the full cost of your rent

• if the money is for a deposit or rent in advance for a property you have yet to move into so long as you are already receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit 

• if your rent shortfall is putting you at risk of becoming homeless

• if you have extra heating costs because you spend a lot of time at home because you are sick or disabled

• you have additional travel costs because you travel to a doctor or hospital or you care for a relative or friend

• if your finances have been affected due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It can be helpful to show what your income and outgoings are especially if you have any extra costs due to things like a family emergency, or a disability. Provide as much evidence to support this as you can.

If your claim is turned down

You can ask the council to review their decision. You should give as much information as you can about why you need the payment. You might want to speak with an adviser about this.