Discretionary housing payments
Your local authority can make a discretionary housing payment (DHP) if you are entitled to HB or the housing costs element of UC (for rent) and you require additional help to meet your housing costs. You must show why your benefit does not cover your full rent – eg, because you are affected by benefit cap or the bedroom tax. In Scotland, the Scottish government funds DHPs to fully mitigate the bedroom tax and benefit cap, so if you apply to your local authority for a DHP for a loss of benefit due to the bedroom tax or benefit cap, you should receive one.1Scottish Discretionary Housing Payment: Guidance Manual, paras 2.3, 5 and 6 You must usually complete an application form. DHPs are discretionary, so there are no rules about whether or how much you will be paid. You cannot apply for a DHP specifically to cover charges which are excluded from HB or the housing costs element of UC – eg, most fuel charges.
There is no right of appeal against a DHP decision, but you can ask the local authority to review its decision. If a local authority acts unreasonably regarding making a decision, it can be subject to judicial review or you can make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.