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Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

DHP's are extra payments to help you pay your rent, Council Tax or both. You are only able to claim DHP's if you are eligible for benefit. Any awards are in addition to any Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit that have already been awarded.

There is only a certain amount of money available, each year, that can be spent on DHP's; we cannot spend more than this amount.

 

We cannot give DHP's for:

  • Service charges not covered by Housing Benefit;
  • Any rent you owe;
  • Money taken from your Housing Benefit because your JSA, ESA or Child Support has been sanctioned;
  • Housing and Council Tax Benefit payments because they are suspended;
  • Rent, if you are only entitled to Council Tax Benefit;
  • Council Tax, if you are only entitled to Housing Benefit;
  • Both Rent and Council Tax if you are only entitled to Second Adult Rebate.

How do I apply for Discretionary Housing Payments?

You can apply for DHP's if you are currently entitled to Housing or Council Tax Benefit. Please telephone us on 01246 242440, submit an enquiry form or write to us at The Benefits Department, Bolsover District Council, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover, Derbyshire, S44 6NF.

How we decide if you are eligible for DHP's?

We can make Discretionary Housing Payments if we decide that someone needs extra help with Housing Costs. When making our decision we consider:

  • Your income;
  • Your savings;
  • Your outgoings;
  • If anyone else in your house can help you;
  • If you have tried to negotiate a lower rent with your Landlord;
  • If you have any loans or debts;
  • If you could manage your money better;
  • What changes you have made or are looking to make to manage the situation yourself;
  • If anyone in your family is ill or disabled.

Information and Evidence

In order to make a decision we will need to ask you for information and evidence to support your application.

Once a decision has been made we will write to you telling you the decision and our reasons for the decision.

How much Discretionary Housing Payments will be made?

The amount you receive from DHP's is totally dependant upon your circumstances. We look at each case individually as no two claims for such payments are ever identical.

For help with with your rent, we cannot give you more than your total rent (less any amounts for service costs e.g) Electricity or water).

For Council Tax, we cannot give your more than the amount of your Council Tax.

How long will I receive Discretionary Housing Payments for?

As mentioned previously, there are no guarantees that DHP's will be awarded. However, if awarded these types of payments are generally awarded to provide short term help. Again, each claim will be considered individually and therefore in general it is impossible to state how long each claim will be awarded for without considering the individual circumstances.

If successful, how will my payments be made?

Although DHP's are not a benefit payment they will be paid along with any Housing and Council Tax Benefit entitlement.

What to do if your circumstances change.

If your circumstances change then your DHP entitlement may need to be adjusted. Therefore, it is important that you let us know of ALL changes to your circumstances.

If you fail to notify us of a change in circumstance, which would lead to a change in the amount of Discretionary Housing Payments you are entitled to, then you may have to pay back some, or all of any amount that you have received.

Last Updated on Monday, 20 December 2010 15:03

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