Discretionary Housing Payment Policy 2022-23

A number of claimants will be affected by benefit reductions for a short period of time until a predictable change in circumstances occurs such as a birthday, when housing costs will become affordable.

For example:

• a child who is a member of the household reaches the age of 16 within the 12 months following the date of the DHP application and the number of bedrooms which would be allowed under the size criteria at that time would match the number of bedrooms in the property
• a child who is a member of the household reaches the age of 10 within the 12 months following the date of the DHP application and the number of bedrooms which would be allowed under the size criteria at that time would match the number of bedrooms in the property
• a member of the household is expecting a child and the number of bedrooms which would be allowed under the size criteria following the term of the pregnancy would match the number of bedrooms in the property
• in the social rented sector a DHP will be paid for up to one year where the claimant or partner will reach the qualifying age for state pension credit within the 12 months following the date of the DHP application and will therefore be exempt from the under occupation legislation
• in the private rented sector a DHP will be paid for up to one year, where the claimant reaches the age of 35 years within 12 months of the date of the DHP application and would then be eligible for the one bedroom LHA rate