What is a Discretionary Housing Payment?

For people on Housing Benefit or Universal Credit whose benefit does not cover their rent.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is extra money from your council to help with housing costs if your benefit does not cover your rent.

You must get Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit with housing costs for rent.
It can help with a rent shortfall, a deposit, rent in advance or removal costs.
It cannot cover things like ineligible service charges or benefit sanctions.
The council decides how much you get and for how long.

Different in England

Since 1 April 2026, DHPs in England have been replaced by Housing Payments from the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The rules on who can get one are the same.
Wales and Scotland still have DHPs.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Need Housing Benefit or UC housing costs
Helps with rent shortfalls and deposits
England: now called Housing Payment
Apply to your local council

What a Discretionary Housing Payment is

A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is a top up from your council. "Discretionary" means the council chooses whether to pay. It is not a benefit you have a right to.

Councils have a set budget for these payments each year. They decide who gets help, how much, and for how long.

The change in England from April 2026

DHPs in England ended on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026 they were replaced by the Housing Payment part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This fund runs until 31 March 2029.

The Housing Payment works in a very similar way:

the same people can get it
it can be used for the same kinds of costs
the same things are ruled out

Councils must accept applications all year round. They must offer at least two ways to apply, such as online, by phone or face to face.

Wales and Scotland still use DHPs. In Scotland, DHPs have been fully run by the Scottish Government since 2017.

Who can get one

You must be entitled to either:

Housing Benefit, or
Universal Credit that includes housing costs for rent

Shared owners who pay rent on part of their home can also qualify. In England, you can apply even if you are entitled to the benefit but it has not been paid yet.

What it can help with

Can help with	Cannot help with
A gap between your rent and your benefit	Service charges your benefit does not cover
Shortfalls from the benefit cap	Rent increases caused by rent arrears
Shortfalls from the spare room rule (often called the bedroom tax)	Benefit sanctions and reductions
Shortfalls from Local Housing Allowance limits	Money taken back for an overpayment
Rent in advance and deposits	Benefit that has been stopped because you did not cooperate
Removal costs
Past rent arrears, in some cases

How to apply

Find your local council's website or call them.
Look for "Discretionary Housing Payment" (Wales and Scotland) or "Housing Payment" or "Crisis and Resilience Fund" (England).
Fill in the council's form.
Send any proof the council asks for.

The council can backdate a payment if you ask. Each case is looked at on its own facts.

Things to know

The council decides how long help lasts. You may get a one off payment, or regular payments that stop on a set date.
There is no appeal to a tribunal. If you disagree, ask your council to look at its decision again.
If you think the council handled your case badly, you can complain to the ombudsman.
Citizens Advice can help you with the form for free.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Find help from your council

Common questions

Can I get a Discretionary Housing Payment in England?

Not under that name. From 1 April 2026 DHPs in England were replaced by the Housing Payment part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which helps the same group of people.

Can a DHP pay off rent arrears?

It can. Councils can choose to use it for past rent arrears, but it cannot cover rent increases caused by rent arrears.

Can I appeal a DHP decision?

There is no appeal to a tribunal. You can ask your council to look at its decision again, and complain to the ombudsman if the council acted wrongly.

Official sources

1.Discretionary Housing Payments guidance manualwww.gov.uk/government/publications/discretionary-housing-payments-guidance-manual/discretionary-housing-payments-guidance-manual
2.Crisis and Resilience Fund: guidance for local authorities in Englandwww.gov.uk/government/publications/crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029/the-crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029
3.Get help with the cost of living from your local councilwww.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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