Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are short term awards for people in extreme financial hardship to help with pay housing costs (for example, rent, moving costs, rent deposits and rent in advance). They are paid by us in addition to any housing benefit or Universal Credit you receive. 

In order to qualify you must;

• be in receipt of housing benefit  or
• be entitled to the housing element in the assessment of your Universal Credit award. 

Applications are now closed for 2025/26. From 1st April 2026 DHP will be replaced by Crisis Resilience Fund Housing Payments. More information will be made available on our website including how to make an application soon.