The pot of money the local council has is limited and more people apply for one than they are able to help. They are therefore very careful with the amount they award.
If you are applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help you pay your rent – and the council decide to make you an on-going payment, the most the local council can award you is your eligible rent, however it could be less than this. This award will be for a future period of perhaps 13 or 26 weeks.
When this period ends, you can ask for a further Discretionary Housing Payment but there is no guarantee that you will get one.
If you are applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment for the start-up costs of a tenancy, such as rent deposits, and the council decide to make you a payment - then it is up to the local council how much they actually give you based on your circumstances.
NOTE: There are some things a DHP can’t cover – these include:
- Ineligible Service charges (ie those that Housing Benefit or Universal Credit won’t pay for such as personal heating and hot water, support services).
- A deduction taken off your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to repay an overpayment.
- A deduction taken off your Universal Credit to repay a loan or an advance payment or a hardship payment.
- A deduction taken off your Universal Credit to pay a third party, such as a maintenance payment or fine or gas/ electricity/water bill arrears.
- A deduction taken off your Universal Credit because you have been “sanctioned”.
- Extra payments on top of your rent to cover rent arrears.