Discretionary Housing Payments
What are Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)?
The Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme allows the Council to pay people in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit an additional sum if it is satisfied that a person needs additional help with their housing costs and that it is reasonable to make a payment.
The Government strictly limits the money the Council is able to spend on this scheme. This means that the payments must, in effect, be rationed and it is therefore unlikely that any payment will meet any shortfall in your housing costs in full or continue for an indefinite period.
How do I claim a DHP?
You must complete an application form to claim a DHP. You can either:
- complete a DHP application form online
- apply by phone on 020 8496 8550, or ask them to send you a form
- download a copy of the DHP Form (DOC), fill it in and send it to us
- email your request to the Revenues and Benefits Service
- visit one of the Waltham Forest Direct Shops
It is important that you provide as much information as possible when you make your claim. If you do not, we may have to refuse to make an award.
How will I be paid?
DHPs are usually paid as an addition to your regular Housing Benefit payments although we will occasionally make a single one-off payment where this is appropriate.
DHP awards are usually only made for a limited period. This is to give you time to find suitable cheaper accommodation or to find another way of meeting your housing costs. We will tell you how long any award is for when we write to you to tell you about your application.
How much can I get?
The total of your benefit plus discretionary housing payment (DHP) may not exceed your contractual rent or your council tax liability.
This means that the most we can pay is the shortfall between your housing benefit and your contractual rent, or the shortfall between your council tax benefit and your full council tax (after any discounts).
However, it is unlikely that any award will cover all of the shortfall. We generally expect people who are awarded a DHP to pay at least £5.00 a week towards the difference between their housing costs and their total benefit entitlement.
Contact Us
Please contact us the Revenues and Benefits Service if you have any queries.
