Discretionary housing payments (DHPs) (replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England) are not a type of housing benefit but administered by the same authorities.

The local authority can give you a DHP if it considers that you need further help to meet your housing costs. DHPs are discretionary (no one has a right to one) – as is the amount of DHP and the period for which it is granted. The combined amount of your housing benefit and DHP in any one week cannot usually exceed your ‘eligible rent’ (see 8 above ). However, a DHP can exceed the current amount of eligible rent in some circumstances, eg if you have rent arrears and the DHP covers the past period.

DHPs cannot be used if benefit has been reduced or suspended (eg for failure to take part in a work-focused interview), or for ineligible service charges (see 12 above ) or water and sewerage charges.

How to apply – Most local authorities have a form on which to request