If you receive Council Tax Benefit but need more help to pay your Council Tax you may be entitled to extra financial help.

We have a limited amount of money which we can spend each year to help people who need help with these housing costs. This extra help is called Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Discretionary Housing Payments are an extra payment we make based on your circumstances - see 'Downloads' for a copy of the application form.

How long will the payments last for?

In all cases we will decide the length of time for which a DHP will be awarded on the basis of the evidence supplied and the facts known.

The minimum period for which we will award a DHP is one week, usually for no less than 3 months. We will not normally award a DHP for a period exceeding 12 months.

How do you decide if I am entitled to extra help?

We take into account:

• The shortfall between your benefit and how much you have to pay
• Any steps you have taken to reduce your council tax liability (how much you have to pay)
• The medical circumstances (i.e., ill health or disabilities) of you, your partner and any dependants
• Your income and outgoings
• Any savings or capital that might be held by you or your family
• Any debts you have
• The amount available in the DHP budget at the time of the application
• Any other special circumstances brought to the attention of the Benefits Section.

We will decide how much to award based on all of the circumstances. This may be an amount below the difference between the amount you have to pay and your benefit award. An award of a DHP does not guarantee that a further award will be made at a later date even if your circumstances have not changed.

If your circumstances change you need to tell us. We may need to revise any award of a DHP.

The right to appeal

If we are unable to help you further, you may dispute this decision but as DHPs are not payments of Housing or Council Tax Benefit, they are not subject to the same appeals process.

If you disagree with our decision, you may dispute this and appeal to us within 1 calendar month. Where this has not already been done, we will explain the DHP decision to you by telephone, at interview or in writing and will try to resolve the matter.

Where agreement cannot be reached, our Appeals section will review all the evidence held and inform you of our decision.

In the event we cannot change (revise) the original decision you will be sent a letter to tell you this, with an explanation of the decision. This decision is final and may only be challenged via the judicial review process or by complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.

In exceptional circumstances only, all of the above time periods for appeal may be extended.