A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is a top-up for housing costs, paid by a local council on top of benefits a household already receives. It is not an automatic right: the council decides whether to award one. In Wales, you must already receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to get a DHP, and councils make the award decision. In England, GOV.UK (page dated 1 April 2026) states that the Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced DHPs.
What is a Discretionary Housing Payment?
A DHP is a council-administered payment that covers part of housing costs beyond what standard benefit pays. Its legal basis is discretion: the council has the power to award it case by case, and an eligible household cannot claim it as of right.
Discretionary, not automatic. Because the award is discretionary, meeting the basic conditions does not guarantee a payment. In Wales, councils decide whether to award a DHP (GOV.UK, 1 April 2026).
Top-up, not a replacement. In Scotland, a DHP can address rent shortfalls caused by the bedroom tax or the benefit cap (mygov.scot, Scottish Government, 24 June 2025). The DHP adds to a benefit; it does not replace one.
Time-limited award. In Scotland, an awarded DHP should state how long it lasts, any end date, and how to reapply. The council can review whether you still need it (mygov.scot, 24 June 2025).
How it differs from Housing Benefit and the Universal Credit housing element
| Feature | Housing Benefit / UC housing element | Discretionary Housing Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Standard housing support | Supplementary top-up |
| Decision | Paid under the standard benefit rules | Council decides whether to award |
| Prerequisite | Qualifying for the benefit | Must already receive HB or the UC housing element (Wales, Scotland) |
| Duration | Depends on the benefit rules | In Scotland, can carry an end date and be reviewed |
Who can apply for a DHP?
In Wales and Scotland, a DHP is open to people who already receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. In Scotland you must also rent your home. The council then decides whether to award a payment. Eligibility rests on three checks: current housing support, tenancy status and the qualifying reason.
Current housing support
You must already be receiving one of the two forms of housing support below. The sources for each nation are dated.
| Nation | Housing support you must already receive | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit | GOV.UK (2026-04-01) |
| Scotland | Housing Benefit, or the Universal Credit housing element | mygov.scot, Scottish Government (2025-06-24) |
A DHP is not a standalone benefit. Without one of these payments in place, the eligibility conditions are not met.
Tenancy status
The rule covers the home you live in, and you must rent it. The Scottish Government page states this requirement directly (mygov.scot, 2025-06-24). A DHP is therefore tied to a rented property, not to a home you own.
Qualifying reasons for a shortfall
A DHP helps with a gap between the rent you pay and the support you receive. Under the Scottish rules (mygov.scot, 2025-06-24), the qualifying reasons are:
- Bedroom tax: the shortfall is caused by the bedroom tax.
- Benefit cap: the shortfall is caused by the benefit cap.
- Rent not covered by the Local Housing Allowance rate: part of your rent sits above the rate the support pays.
These are the situations the Scottish Government page says a DHP can help with, and the council decides each case individually. The page also says a DHP can cover some one-off costs (a deposit, rent in advance or removal costs) in some cases. Ask your council whether your circumstances can be considered.
How do I apply for a DHP?
The application starts with your local council. Before you contact it, check that you meet the basic conditions for your nation.
| Nation | Route to a DHP | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | Contact your council. You must receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. | GOV.UK (2026-04-01) |
| Scotland | Contact your local council. You must rent your home and receive Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element. | mygov.scot (2025-06-24) |
| England | DHPs have been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund. | GOV.UK (2026-04-01) |
When you contact the council, state clearly that you want to request a DHP and ask what forms and information it requires. The council’s own website or staff are the reliable source for these details. Keep a record of the date you made contact and the name of the person you spoke to.
Gather the documents that prove your housing costs and your current benefit before you submit. The sources do not list required documents, so ask the council what evidence of your rent and your benefit it needs. Check the council’s list rather than relying on a generic one, and submit copies in the way the council specifies.
What can a DHP pay for?
A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is a council top-up, not a general rent payment. The costs it can meet fall into two groups: ongoing rent shortfalls and one-off costs linked to taking on or moving into a home. These are set out for Scotland (mygov.scot, Scottish Government, 2025-06-24). Check your own nation’s rules before assuming the same list applies.
Ongoing rent shortfalls
In Scotland, a DHP can help with rent shortfalls caused by:
- the bedroom tax
- the benefit cap
- part of the rent not covered by the Local Housing Allowance rate (in some cases)
One-off costs
In some cases, a DHP can also cover:
- a deposit
- rent in advance
- removal costs
The table below separates the two groups.
| Type | Cost a DHP can cover (Scotland) |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | Rent shortfall caused by the bedroom tax |
| Ongoing | Rent shortfall caused by the benefit cap |
| Ongoing | Part of rent not covered by the LHA rate, in some cases |
| One-off | Deposit, in some cases |
| One-off | Rent in advance, in some cases |
| One-off | Removal costs, in some cases |
Because councils decide whether to award a DHP, this list shows what a payment can cover, not what you will receive. Write each cost as a separate line with its amount in your request, so the council can see which shortfall or one-off expense each part of the claim relates to.
What happens after you apply?
Once the council decides, the outcome is recorded in a decision notice. In Scotland, an awarded Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) should come with information on how long it lasts, any end date, and how to reapply. The notice is the reference document for the award, so keep it with your tenancy and rent records.
Stated end dates matter most. If the notice gives an end date, payments stop after it unless you have reapplied and been awarded again. Check the date as soon as the notice arrives and note it somewhere you will see it. Reapplication follows the route stated in the notice, which is the same council process used for the first application.
While an award is running, the council can also review whether you still need the payment. A review checks whether your housing costs and circumstances still support the award, so keep your rent and income records current in case you are asked for them.
The rules differ by part of the UK:
| Area | Position on the GOV.UK and mygov.scot pages (dated) |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Award notice sets the duration, any end date and the reapplication route; the council can review continued need (mygov.scot, 2025-06-24) |
| Wales | DHPs remain available, for people receiving Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element; councils decide awards (GOV.UK, 2026-04-01) |
| England | DHPs are no longer the route, because the Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced them (GOV.UK, 2026-04-01) |
Can you challenge a DHP decision?
Check your decision letter or the council’s published procedure for how to ask for a review and for any ombudsman route. If you disagree with a refusal, a reduced amount or a short award, get independent advice from a welfare rights or legal advice service before the deadline in your letter passes. The steps below are general guidance, not a verified official procedure.
Step 1: Request an internal review
Put the request in writing and state clearly what you disagree with:
- The refusal itself: you believe you meet the conditions for an award.
- The amount: the award is lower than the shortfall you face.
- The duration: the award period is shorter than your need.
Tie your challenge to the specific cause of your shortfall, and attach evidence such as your rent statement, a calculation of the shortfall, and any change in your circumstances.
Step 2: Check the time limit
Check the time limit stated in your decision letter or in the council’s published review procedure. Send the request early.
Step 3: Escalate to the ombudsman
If the internal review does not resolve the matter, escalate to the ombudsman route named in the council’s review outcome. Send the review outcome letter along with your original evidence.
| Stage | Your action | Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Refusal or reduced award | Read the stated reason and amount | Decision letter |
| Internal review | Written request naming what you disagree with | Copy of request, date sent |
| Ombudsman | Escalate if the review is unresolved | Review outcome letter, all evidence |
DHP in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) do not operate the same way across the UK. The verified data covers Wales and Scotland, where councils still award them. England has moved to a different scheme, and the data contains no entry for Northern Ireland. Confirm which nation you live in before contacting your council.
| Nation | DHP status | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| England | Replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund | GOV.UK (2026-04-01) |
| Wales | Councils decide whether to award a DHP | GOV.UK (2026-04-01) |
| Scotland | Councils award DHPs | mygov.scot, Scottish Government (2025-06-24) |
| Northern Ireland | No verified data | None |
England: DHPs replaced
GOV.UK’s DHP page, dated 2026-04-01, states that the Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced DHPs in England. The data does not describe the fund’s eligibility, coverage or application route, so those details are not covered here. Check GOV.UK directly for the current rules.
Wales: councils still award DHPs
No Welsh-specific amounts or limits are verified.
Northern Ireland: no verified data
The reference data contains no information on DHPs in Northern Ireland. Any statement about whether a DHP exists there would be unsupported. Use the official government guidance for Northern Ireland and note the date of any page you rely on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a Discretionary Housing Payment in England?
GOV.UK’s page dated 1 April 2026 says the Crisis and Resilience Fund has replaced DHPs in England, so the DHP guidance it contains now covers only Wales. The sources provided do not cover Northern Ireland.
Do I need Housing Benefit to qualify for a DHP?
Not necessarily. In Wales and Scotland, you must already receive either Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element. Receiving one of these is a precondition, but the council still makes the final decision.
How do I apply for a DHP in Scotland?
Contact your local council directly. You must rent your home and receive Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element. The council then decides whether to award a DHP, which can cover rent shortfalls caused by the bedroom tax or the benefit cap.
