Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment
 

What is a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)?

A DHP provides short term financial assistance for housing costs. These payments are made at the discretion of our housing service, where we consider that an applicant is in need.

DHPs are free-standing and separate. They are not payments of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. DHP is a 'cash limited' fund provided by the government each year. Once the fund has been spent there will be no further awards made.

We carefully consider each individual case, and we take a number of different factors into account. The decision we make depends upon your circumstances and what the money will be used for.

If you need advice and assistance regarding your housing situation, please contact the Housing Options Team by email at housing@westberks.gov.uk, or phone us on 01635 519 530 and choose option 2.

Who can claim a DHP

Anyone who is currently receiving Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit, and needs further financial assistance with housing costs can make a claim for a DHP.

What a DHP can help with

DHPs can help where:

• you've had a reduction of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit following the removal of the spare room subsidy
• you've had a reduction of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit where the benefit cap has been applied
• you've had a rent shortfall - it can help prevent a household becoming homeless whilst the housing service explores alternative options
• you need a rent deposit, help with rent in advance, or help to pay removal costs if you need to move to a smaller or cheaper property and you can demonstrate that you cannot afford this on your own

DHPs cannot help with:

• ineligible service charges
• increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears
• certain sanctions or reductions in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits
• shortfalls caused by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit overpayment recovery

How and when a DHP is paid

DHPs are paid along with your Housing Benefit, or as a direct payment if you receive Universal Credit. The payment will usually be sent to you (or your landlord if you are receiving direct payment) alongside your regular benefit payment.

There is no time limit for how long a DHP can be paid, but it will be paid for a set period of time. When that runs out you are welcome to re-apply if your circumstances are the same. If your circumstances change during the set period, your DHP may stop or change as a result.

We cannot spend more than the annual limit set by the government. Once the fund has been spent there will be no further awards made.

If your circumstances change

You must keep the Benefits Team (or DWP if you are in receipt of Universal Credit) and the housing service informed of any changes in your circumstances, as they may affect the amount of benefit you receive.

Applying for a DHP

You can apply for a DHP online here.

If you do not tell us something in your application which would otherwise have affected our decision to give you a payment, you may be asked to repay the DHP.

If you need further help, please email DHP@westberks.gov.uk.
 

Information you need to provide

For your application to be successful, our housing service must be able to evidence that you need extra help with your housing costs. This will normally involve comparing your income and your spending, so you will need to be able to provide evidence to help prove your case.

The following documents will be required:

• a signed DHP application form
• your last 3 months of bank statements, for any accounts held by you (and your partner if applicable)
• evidence that you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit
• other support documents, dependent on the reason for the application (for example: for help with rent in advance/rent deposit you would need your Tenancy Agreement, landlord's bank details, Gas Safety Certificate and EPC)

What happens after you have applied

If the form is not fully completed or is missing income and expenditure details or relevant paperwork, we will return it to you.

Fully completed applications will be reviewed and processed by a designated officer. We aim to notify you of the decision within 28 days of receipt of the application. Once we have reviewed it, we will write to you to let you know our decision, the reasons for it and what happens next.
 

If you disagree with our decision

If you do not agree with the decision that has been made, you can ask us to look at our decision again. If you are able to, you can provide new information that might help your application.

Any request for a review of a decision should be made in writing and marked for the attention of the Housing Strategy, Development and Review Manager within 21 days of receiving the decision letter.

Further advice

For further advice and information, you can contact the Housing Options Team. Alternatively, you can get independent advice from organisations such as Citizen's Advice.