Discretionary housing payments
Discretionary housing payments (DHPs) are extra payments that can be paid by the local authority in addition to your UC or HB.
A local authority can pay you a DHP if:1s69 CSPSSA 2000; reg 2(1) DFA Regs •you are entitled to HB or UC which includes a housing costs element for rent; and
•you appear to need additional financial help to meet your housing costs.
The local authority has discretion whether or not to pay you, how much to pay you and over what period. Certain expenses cannot be met by DHPs – eg, a need for financial assistance that arises because of a reduction in HB to recover an overpayment, or a need that arises as a consequence of ineligible service charges under the HB scheme.
DHPs can be particularly important if your HB is reduced because of the bedroom tax or the benefit cap.