Discretionary Housing Payment Policy 2022-23

2.1 This policy applies to all applications for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). The DHP scheme is funded through an annual Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) cash limited grant. DHPs provide claimants with further financial assistance, in addition to any welfare benefits, when a Local Authority (LA) considers that additional help with housing costs is required.

2.2  For a DHP to be considered the claimant must be:

• entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with housing costs
• have a rental liability
• require further assistance with housing costs

DHP awards can only be made for a period when housing benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit has been awarded and cannot duplicate any housing benefit or costs paid to the claimant but not used for the intended use.

2.3 Housing costs are not defined in the regulations and this gives the Council a broad discretion to interpret the term as they wish. In general, housing costs means rental liability. However, housing costs can be interpreted more widely to include:

• rent in advance
• bonds or rent deposits
• other lump sum costs associated with a housing need such as removal costs

2.4 The main features of the scheme are:

• the administration of the scheme is determined by the Revenues and Benefits Service, working in collaboration with other Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council services
• the scheme is of a discretionary nature; a claimant has no statutory right to payment
• the total amount an Authority can pay out in any financial year is cash limited by the Secretary of State
• DHPs are not payments of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit or Universal Credit with housing costs