Discretionary Housing Payments

A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) provides extra help with rent or housing costs for a short period of time.

DHPs are awarded at our discretion and are not a benefit.

Who is eligible

You can apply if you get either:

• Housing Benefit
• the housing costs element of Universal Credit.

What a DHP covers

DHPs are to help with housing costs. This usually refers to rent but can also mean:

• Rent in advance
• Deposits
• Removal costs

We can usually help in situations such as these:

• When there is a difference between your rent and the Local Housing Allowance rate
• If your housing costs are reduced because you have a spare bedroom
• If your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit is reduced due to the Benefit Cap
• Help with removal costs if you have no other way to pay
• Help with a deposit to secure a tenancy if you have no other way to pay

What a DHP does not cover

• Rent arrears from a time when you were not receiving Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit
• Service charges that are not covered, such as heating or water
• Furniture or household items
• Rent increases due to unpaid arrears
• Benefit reductions due to sanctions
• Benefit reductions caused by the recovery of overpayments

How long a DHP lasts

Awards normally cover between three and six months. This gives you time to improve your circumstances.

In exceptional circumstances, we may make longer-term awards.

How to apply

You must contact us to request an application form:

• Email benefits@dacorum.gov.uk or
• Call Customer Services on 01442 228000 

We will assess each case individually.

How long your claim will take

If you are at risk of losing your home because you cannot pay your rent, please contact our homelessness service immediately.

How we pay a DHP

We award DHPs either weekly for ongoing costs or as a one-off payment for specific needs, such as removal costs.

• If you receive Housing Benefit: paid at the same time as your usual Housing Benefit payments
• If you receive Universal Credit: paid once every four weeks
• If you rent your home from us: credited to your rent account
• If you rent from a housing association or private landlord: usually paid directly to you.

If we refuse your application

DHPs are not benefits. This means you do not have a right of appeal.

If you disagree with our decision, you can ask for a review.

The DHP Review Panel is made up of managers from the Benefits, Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Tenancy Sustainment services. It will discuss your case. We will then write to you explaining our decision.

To ask for a review, please email benefits@dacorum.gov.uk, including:

• why you think our decision was wrong
• any further evidence that will help us.

More information

For more information about DHPs, please view our  Discretionary Housing Payment policy (PDF 151KB).