Discretionary Housing Payments

The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme is for people in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who need extra support with housing costs.

You will only be able to apply for DHP if you are:

  • entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
  • responsible for rent payments and need more financial help with housing costs
  • your entitlement to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing element is less than your full rent after deducting any ineligible charges

When you cannot claim DHP

You will not be entitled to DHP to pay for service charges that are not eligible for Housing Benefit, such as water, heating or meals.

DHP payment towards deposits will not be made in any circumstance if you have been able to move in to a property without paying one. This applies even if you have been allowed to move in on the basis that a deposit will be paid at a later date.

There are no rules that give anyone a right to a payment, but we may be able to pay you DHP if we believe you need extra financial help. There is a legal limit on the amount each council can pay each year for people in their area. For more information please read the Discretionary Housing Payment policy.

Apply for Discretionary Housing Payments

For help with your rent, please download and complete the form that applies to you:

For help with a deposit on a new home or other housing costs, please download and complete the form that applies to you:

Submitting your application

If you have a claim reference number you can submit your application using the Evidence Upload Form.

You can also submit your application at Greenhill Library, College Road where staff will scan your form and other documents. 

Occasionally, we have to request additional information to help us make a decision on your application. If this happens we will write to you and advise how you can provide the information. We will let you know if we need to see originals.

After your application has been submitted

You will receive a letter to inform you when a decision is made. 

We aim to consider Discretionary Housing Payment applications within two months of receiving them.  We will contact you either to advise you of our decision or to ask for more information to support your application.  

Please note that awards of DHP are made on a discretionary basis and that your application does not guarantee that payment will be made.

Checking the progress of your application

If you would like to check the progress of your application please sign in to your MyHarrow Account. You will be able to view the stage of your application and any letters we may have sent you on the account.

Please do not contact us to check the progress of your application until after the two-month period has passed. This will enable us to process your application more quickly.

How we will share your information

We will use the information you provide when you apply for housing benefit, council tax support or emergency relief to process your application. We will also use the information you provide for other purposes. For further details please download our privacy notice.