How to get help paying your rent if you’re struggling on Universal Credit

BRITS on benefits could get extra cash to help with housing costs if they fall behind on rent.

Discretionary Housing Payment is a little known pot of money handed out by councils to those struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

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The financial support is available to those getting benefits for housing in England and Wales.

Each local authority dishes out the cash to those in need on a case-by-case basis and the amounts available can vary.

They have been given £840m in total by the government to give out since 2015.

Anyone claiming Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit could be eligible if they are struggling with rent costs.

Sue Anderson of debt charity StepChange said there needs to be greater awareness of DHP, as too many people don’t know they can get the help.

“With support measures winding down but levels of financial distress still high, Discretionary Housing Payments could be a valuable tool for helping address any shortfall in an individuals’ income.

“It’s important to note that the amount you can get will vary depending upon your local council.”

“At the moment, too many people are unaware of the potential to receive DHP, so we need to see greater awareness made of this help where it’s available.”

Citizen’s Advice have warned of a “perfect storm” for those on low incomes this winter that could push many into debt.

There will be a £20 a week cut to Universal Credit in September and a rise in energy bills going this winter.

The government’s furlough scheme will also come to an end in September

Who is eligible for Discretionary Housing Payment and when can I get it?

You may be able to get Discretionary Housing Payment in the if you are entitled to Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit.

There’s a similar scheme of the same name in Scotland which can also provide support for housing costs, but with different eligibility criteria.

If the benefits you’re currently getting still don’t cover the cost of your housing then you may be eligible.

The payment is discretionary, which means that the financial support given out is decided on case by case basis.

DHP may be given in the following circumstances, but there are circumstances where you could get it too.

• You’ve been affected by the benefit cap, bedroom tax or local housing allowance rate changes
• Your housing benefit is not enough to cover your rent
• You’re moving home and need a rent deposit or rent advance, or help with moving costs

If your benefits are reduced because of an overpayment and that means you can’t pay all or some of your rent, unfortunately you won’t be able to get DHP.

There is other help available though, and you can see more on what’s available below

You can’t get a DHP to cover a rent shortfall if your benefits have been reduced because of an overpayment.

You also can’t get DHP to cover council tax or service charges.

How much is Discretionary Housing Payment?

If you are eligible and the council gives you Discretionary Housing Payment, how much you get will depend on your council.

There is no fixed amount for DHP and what you get may cover only some of your housing costs, not all of it.

There is also no fixed way of getting the payment – you may get it paid as a one-off lump sum, or as a regular payment, for example monthly.

The payment may be ongoing or have an end date – if you’re claiming it then it’s worth checking when it will finish

If you still need help after the support ends, you can apply for the payment again, although there’s no guarantee of getting it or that it will be the same amount if you do.

There’s no limit on the amount of times you can apply for the payment.

But each council only has a certain amount of money that can be spent on DHP each year.

Once a council uses up all the funding that’s it, and it may have to turn down applications if there is no more cash left.

If you apply for DHP and are turned down you can ask the council to reconsider.

You can also apply again after being turned down if your circumstances have changed.

Equally, if you get the payment and your circumstances change you’ll also need to let the council know as it could affect your entitlement to the money.

The payment you get could to you directly, or be paid straight to your landlord

You may also be able to get the payment backdated.

How can I claim Discretionary Housing Payment?

You need to apply through your local council for Discretionary Housing Payment.

You can find your local council by searching your postcode here.

Benefits charity Turn2Us has shared the following tip for finding your local council’s DHP support too, as it can sometimes be hard to find.

Search online using the name of your local council and Discretionary Housing Payment in quote marks, for instance: “Birmingham City Council Discretionary Housing Payment”

Some councils may also call DHP by a different name, for example Islington Council has a Resident Support Scheme. 

How you apply can vary, for example it may be a form to fill in online or on paper, and your local council should provide instructions.

You’ll need to give information about your circumstances, such as your income and benefits you get, along with proof of this through payslips and evidence of your rent costs.

What other help can I get paying rent?

In the first instance if you can’t pay your rent, speak to your landlord as soon as possible.

They might give you more time to pay, or shrink your rent while you get back on your feet.

You should check you’re getting all the money you’re entitled to through benefits too.

You might be entitled to a reduction in council tax which could help reduce your bill and make your rent payments. 

The scheme could reduce your bill by as much as 100%, but it depends on your personal circumstances such as where you live and whether you have children living with you.

Each council runs its own scheme, so the details vary by area – contact your local council for more information.

Some charities may give grants to help with covering housing costs and most grants do not have to be paid back.

Charity turn2us has a tool that can help you check out grants available near you on its website.

You’ll need to enter your postcode, your gender, and your age.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk