Guidance

Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

Factsheet explaining what Discretionary Housing Payments are, who can claim them and how to apply.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Details

This factsheet is for councils to give to claimants. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) provide extra money when a council decides that someone needs extra help to meet their housing costs. The factsheet explains:

  • who can apply for a DHP
  • how they can use their payment
  • how they can make a claim for DHP

Updates to this page

Published 7 January 2014
Last updated 23 January 2026 show all updates
  1. A new section has been added to provide clearer guidance for Scotland. Northern Ireland DHP link also supplied

  2. Updated the eligibility conditions to clarify that you must be getting Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

  3. Edited English and Welsh guidance to clarify eligibility criteria and how to apply.

  4. Amended RTF to include Universal Credit information. Adding PDF and Welsh versions at a later date.

  5. First published.

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