Discretionary housing payments
We can award a discretionary housing payment (DHP) if you need extra help with your ‘housing costs’. DHPs are not Housing or Council Tax Benefit. However you must be in receipt of one or both of these benefits to be able to claim. If you receive Housing Benefit you can get a DHP to help with your rent. If you receive Council Tax Benefit you can receive a DHP to help with your council tax.
DHPs can be awarded to top up Housing or Council Tax Benefit. where there is a difference between the amount you are charged and the amount you have to pay after benefit has been awarded. However the total amount cannot be more than your rent liability or the amount of council tax you have to pay. The shortfall to these benefits may exist for a number of reasons, for example:
- The average rent for a suitable sized propery in your area is less than the rent you are being charged
- The property you rent is too big for your needs
- The rent is considered too high for the property
- The person claiming is single, under 25 years of age and is not living in a room in a shared house
- Benefit is being reduced because there is a non-dependant in the household
- Your income is above the amount the government says you need to live on
Service charges
We can not award a DHP if the shortfall is because your rent includes water rates, support charges or heating lighting or hot water. These amounts are not eligible for help from Housing Benefit
How to claim
To claim a DHP you must complete a DHP1 form. We will send you a DHP1 if you contact the Discretionary Housing Payments Officer on 020 8359 4577. Alternatively you can contact the Housing Benefit office by phone, by email benefits@barnet.gov.uk, by post or in person.
Why we might not award a DHP even though there is a shortfall
If we believe that by prioritising your housing costs you could afford the rent
- If you could reduce the hardship by moving to a property where Housing Benefit would meet all the rent
- If you knew that Housing Benefit would not meet the rent before you moved in
If you disagree with the decision
If you disagree with the decision about your DHP application you can ask for it to be looked at again. However because DHPs are not Housing Benefit there is no right of appeal to the independent tribunal.
