We can make extra payments for people who need extra financial assistance with their rent and Council Tax in cases where Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit does not meet the full value of their rent or Council Tax.

However there is a strict legal limit on the amount of money the Authority can spend.

To get a Discretionary Housing Payment towards your rent you must be entitled to some Housing Benefit. To get a Discretionary Housing Payment towards your Council Tax you must be entitled to some Council Tax Benefit.

We can only make a Discretionary Housing Payment if we believe that the applicants circumstances warrant further financial assistance in order to meet housing costs.

These payments are entirely discretionary and each case is assessed on its individual merits. Both the personal circumstances and the finances of the applicant are carefully considered.

However Discretionary Housing Payments cannot be awarded towards ineligible services or support charges and these payments are not intended to subsidise high market rents.

Any Discretionary Housing Payment awarded for eligible rental charges will be paid along with your award of Housing Benefit either to you or direct to your Landlord.

You can download our Discretionary Housing Payments leaflet  - 44Kb

We have a special Discretionary Housing Payments form, which makes sure that all applicants' personal and financial circumstances are taken into account when we decide if people are entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment. You can download a form by using this link: Discretionary Housing Payment Application Form - 42Kb.