Discretionary housing payment

Rictina

I have been claiming H/B for a few months now, & have been told that I should put in a claim for Discretionary Housing payment. Does anyone have any experience with this benefit ?

Rictina.

mad_spaniel

No local authority is the same. No person is the same. So asking for extra money, when it's discretionary, is going to get a different reaction from different people. You need to think thro "your angle" and substantiate it. Explain why you/ your family are vulnerable/ at risk? What's the worst possible thing that could happen if you don't get the help you're looking for? Is there any sickness? disability? is someone very old or young? Could your health get worse, physically or mentally? Could someone end up in hospital/ care? give as much info as possible. Why can't you manage on the money you have coming in? Deatil something unusual: Fire/ flood/ theft/ death in the family/ exceptional fuel bills/ phone bills because of being housebound/ unusual, unexpected costs that you've been unable to plan for, which seriously affect you in some way? Be imaginative but honest. There are no prescriptive lists about what should or will count for a discretionary payment. What the LA won't like is the idea that you want a permanent top up, or that you'll keep coming back to them for more and the notion that they could be criticised by the public for supporting someone "undeserving". Some illnesses are unlikely to curry much favour. eg if you're an alcoholic or drug user and can't pay your phone bill, you're unlikely to get far. "you're not deserving" But if youre 6' 6" and take a size 14 shoe, it's outside your control and you might be able to say " clothes/ shoes cost me more than the average person and I can't get what I need from standard shopping outlets at competitive prices." Best of luck!

Rictina

mad_spaniel wrote: »

No local authority is the same. No person is the same. So asking for extra money, when it's discretionary, is going to get a different reaction from different people. You need to think thro "your angle" and substantiate it. Explain why you/ your family are vulnerable/ at risk? What's the worst possible thing that could happen if you don't get the help you're looking for? Is there any sickness? disability? is someone very old or young? Could your health get worse, physically or mentally? Could someone end up in hospital/ care? give as much info as possible. Why can't you manage on the money you have coming in? Deatil something unusual: Fire/ flood/ theft/ death in the family/ exceptional fuel bills/ phone bills because of being housebound/ unusual, unexpected costs that you've been unable to plan for, which seriously affect you in some way? Be imaginative but honest. There are no prescriptive lists about what should or will count for a discretionary payment. What the LA won't like is the idea that you want a permanent top up, or that you'll keep coming back to them for more and the notion that they could be criticised by the public for supporting someone "undeserving". Some illnesses are unlikely to curry much favour. eg if you're an alcoholic or drug user and can't pay your phone bill, you're unlikely to get far. "you're not deserving" But if youre 6' 6" and take a size 14 shoe, it's outside your control and you might be able to say " clothes/ shoes cost me more than the average person and I can't get what I need from standard shopping outlets at competitive prices." Best of luck!

Thanks for that. It was actually the local authority who suggested that I fill in the forms. The only thing which I can think of is that there is a shortage of rental properties in this area, & I am classed as disabled. I didnt even know this type of claim was available, but I now have the forms so I will give it a go.

Cheers.

Rictina.

hippy-chicy

A point to note also is that a DHP is only awarded for a specific amount of time - for example 13/ 26 weeks and this is at the discretion of the decision maker and based on your circumstances. A DHP is designed to help you through a short period of unexpected hardship. During this time you will be expected to find cheaper suitable alternative accommodation to what you have now. A DHP is not awarded indefinately.