Claiming discretionary housing payments

These are payments made to people who need extra help with their housing costs and who are not already getting the maximum housing benefit and/or council tax benefit that the rules allow. They are not payments of benefit and are not administered using the same rules as housing benefit and council tax benefit.

• Who can claim
• How to make a claim
• Conditions for discretionary payments
• How much can be awarded
• Spending limits
• Period over which discretionary housing payment be awarded
• Changes in circumstances
• Overpayments
• Further information

Who can claim?

This benefit can be claimed by someone who is claiming housing benefit, or council tax benefit, or their 'appointee'. An appointee is someone appointed by the council’s benefits section to act on behalf of someone who is not able to deal with their own affairs. To become an appointee you must write to the benefits service explaining why it is necessary.

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How to make a claim

• Contact your area office for a claim form
• Download a claim form
  (if you download a claim form you must then print it, fill it in ink, sign and date it then return to your area benefits office).

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What are the conditions for discretionary payments?

The person claiming must:

• already be entitled to some, but not maximum, housing benefit and/or council tax benefit, and
• make a claim, and
• satisfy the awarding officer that he/she needs extra help, and
• provide any information and evidence that is considered reasonably necessary in order for a decision to be made

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How much can be awarded?

The amount of the discretionary housing payment cannot be more than the total amount of your eligible rent or eligible council tax. It will therefore be an amount that is somewhere between your existing benefit entitlement and your eligible rent or council tax.

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Spending limits

The total amount that the council is allowed to spend on discretionary housing payments in any one year is limited by the government. Tower Hamlets aims to ensure that any payments that are made go to those people who are most in need and are spread out fairly over the whole year so that no one loses out because of a lack of funds.

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Over what period can a discretionary housing payment be awarded?

Payments can be backdated and can be either one-off awards or ongoing payments. However, as the funding available for discretionary housing payments is limited in any one financial year the council will not make ongoing awards for longer than three months. Claimants can reapply for a further discretionary housing payment when one comes to an end and this new application will be considered on its merits.

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Changes in circumstances

If your entitlement to housing benefit or council tax benefit ends so will your discretionary housing payment.

Claimants (or their appointees) must tell the council straight away if there is a change in the conditions under which the discretionary housing payment was granted.

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Overpayments

Can be recovered but this will not be done from any ongoing housing benefit or council tax benefit entitlement you have. Instead recovery will be made by sending you an invoice.

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Further information

For more advice on claiming discretionary housing payments please contact your area benefits office.