Guidance

Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

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

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 7 January 2014
• Last updated: 1 April 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 1 April 2026

     Discretionary Housing Payments now only apply to Wales. Information added about the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England.

  2. 23 January 2026

     A new section has been added to provide clearer guidance for Scotland. Northern Ireland DHP link also supplied

  3. 14 April 2022

     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.

  4. 15 June 2021

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

  5. 21 June 2016

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

  6. 7 January 2014

     First published.

Applies to Wales

• Publication for England
• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland

Documents

Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

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Details

This factsheet is for councils in Wales 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

The Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced Discretionary Housing Payments in England. Find out how you can get help with the cost of living from your local council.