Discretionary Housing Payments
(DHP'S)
DHP
application form (PDF Document)
DHP application form
(Word Document)
Advice and Guidance
Introduction
If you currently receive housing and/or Council Tax Benefit, but
still have a shortfall to pay and this causes you hardship, you may
be able to get extra help.
The Government has set limits on how much the Council can spend
on these payments, but allows the Council to decide how it will
spend this money.
The Council has decided that it will give extra help to support the
Council's vision for the District.
The Council's aims and targets
The Council is committed to social inclusion. Among other
things, social inclusion means unemployment issues and access to
benefits. The Council also wants residents to have access to
housing that they can afford and to give communities the confidence
and ability to act for themselves.
A target is for 10% of houses of multiple occupation be registered
and fit to live in. The Council also wants to reduce the District's
unemployment rate. Another target is to work in partnership with
registered social landlords to develop proposals to improve the
choice for social housing.
Discretionary Housing Payment aims
The Council will promote social inclusion for all claimants with
discretionary housing payments but it will not subsidise poor
accommodation. Through discretionary housing payments the Council
will try to give short-term help to claimants. The Council will not
provide a long-term subsidy for housing or personal costs. The
Council will encourage shared responsibility and have the long-term
aim to help claimants to better themselves through their own
actions.
Where help will be given
The Council can only help with rent and Council Tax payments
where you already receive some Housing Benefit or Council Tax
benefit.
This means that you cannot get any help to pay your rent if you
do not already get Housing Benefit and you cannot get any help to
pay your Council Tax if you do not already get Council Tax
benefit.
The Council will only give help for the following reasons:
- To encourage social inclusion by ensuring that disadvantaged
claimants are able to afford to live in communities that provide
support to enable the claimant to contribute to the District.
- To ensure that claimants receive support to move into
longer-term housing of a good standard of repair. This will include
property supported by the Rent Deposit Scheme
- To ensure the maximum available transitional support for
housing costs when claimants, or their non-dependants, obtain
employment.
- To generally encourage benefit claimants to take up employment
where possible and retain homes of a good standard.
- To provide support to encourage occupation of registered houses
of multiple occupation.
- To ensure that no claimant suffers any undue disadvantage
resulting from circumstances over which they have no control.
- To address the problem of debt through advice, guidance and
support as part of an agreed debt reduction plan.
- To maximise income using the expertise of the Council’s welfare
take-up officer.
How we will make a decision
If you want to apply for extra help you will need to fill out a
form. The form will allow you to write down the reasons why you
think you need extra help. You will also need to fill in a form to
show the money you have coming in and the money you spend.
Your application will be considered by a board of three Council
officers who will not only decide whether an award is granted, but
will be able to offer advice and assistance to help manage debt,
maximise income and assist in resolving other tenancy related
problems.
What will happen if you do not agree with our
decision
If you do not like the decision about your claim you will be
able to ask us to look at your case again. You will need to write
and say what you do not like. You will also be able to provide new
evidence or correct anything that was wrong in your first form.
The benefits Manager will review your application. If he does
not agree with the first decision he will change it and write to
you again to let you know what has changed. If he agrees with the
first decision he will pass your application to the Head of
Revenues and Benefits who, along with the Councillor responsible
for the Benefits service (known as the Portfolio Holder) will make
a final decision.
The Council’s complaints process can be used if you still
disagree with the decision and you will be advised of the options
available to you when the decision is made.
Contacts
If you need to ask any questions about discretionary housing
payments or have trouble in filling out the form please contact the
Revenues Helpline on (01304) 872199
E-mail: revenues@dover.gov.uk
