Does anyone know anything about discretionary housing benefit payments?

Sinkingindebt_2

Hi,

I have had all sorts of probs with HB, they are not paying me arrears that should have been paid, I have exhausted EVERY single avenue to try to get the payment (MP Omburdsman CAB etc) but alas no. I owe over a grand in rent to my LA.

Anyway, I have applied for a discretionary payment, but I know nothing about this scheme, or the likelyhood of getting anything.

Does anyone know my chance? What do they look for? Is there a usual amount the award?

Anyone?

Cheers xx

Eager_Elephant

Hi,

Discretionary Housing Payment is exactly that.

Basically it is a top up for your Housing Benefit, so if you are in LA housing and your rent is £65pw but HB only pays £60pw then you can apply to have this topped up.

The big but is that at this time of year there is obviously less money than there was in April. There is only a set amount per year that can be distributed.

I would say that everyone has a fair chance but if your incomings are higher than your outgoings it is not likely that you will be given any extra as clearly you should be able to afford the difference.

I am unsure how your benefits section work but I have known councils where you just write down a brief outline of why you want the money.
At my council you have to complete a 4 page form about rent, option to move .etc and also a financial statement which I think gives a clearer picture than just a few lines in a letter.

When you say that you have not been paid any arrears, would you care to elaborate as everyone has the right to arrears to be paid but I wonder if the issue is actually backdating or missing a deadline for providing info.

Hope this helps a bit.

EE

Ross01

A DHP and the amount of the award is totally discretionary. It can cover things like a shortfall caused by a rent office restriction, or a non dep deduction, but it will not cover shortfalls due to ineligible service charges, rent arrears, or arrears caused by recovery of an overpayment from ongoing benefit. To be sucessful you need to show that you need help meeting a rent shortfall. It also has to be reasonable for you to receive DHP.

Sinkingindebt_2

Thanks people,

Well HB should have backdated, as I have only started being paid, but they are refusing to do so, they have worked out June-October incorrectly but will not rectify it, and are steadfast, therefore the amount is much much less than it should have been. I have been through every avenue to get it sorted.

Anyway it comes down to the fact that I need to find over £1000 to pay those months arrears (IMO HB should have paid it off).

My housing officer has applied on my behalf, so I know nothing about it really.

Either way I have agreed to pay £200pm on top of my current rent (£400pm) to the council to clear the arrears. Considering my parnter only earns £180pw after tax we are up the creak without a paddle so to speak!!

Sinkingindebt_2

I am fuming!

2 days ago i emailed the Housing officer who was applying on my behalf.

He siad he would go ahead and apply for me on the 30th Novemeber, I chased via email Monday, and today he emails me saying....

He is posting me a form out!!!!!!! *angry*

I suspect he had no intention of applying on my behalf (I have a mental illness so find paperwork stressful) NOR sending out a flippin form, and only did this now as I have chased it.

WHAT CAN I DO?? Nothing I guess, just roll over and take this carp from the Council again and again....

msw_2

I think you should go ahead and apply but IMO your chances of getting discretionary HB in these circumstances are v v slim. It normally only covers a rent shortfall (for a set period onlY) and not rent arrears. Maybe you could post more info about the rent arrears situation and we could help with that?

loopychicken

i applied for this yrs ago an was denied it because i didnt have extenuating circumstances
i rote a letter askin them to explain just what these were but added my own meanings saying that when im robing peter to pay paul an then taking money out of my food money to pay the gas an my daughter is suffering how much hard ship did i have to experience to qualify for extenuating circumstances

any way i got it an was very happy
so good luck

wilf55

dont know alot about it but dhb can be paid at the councils discresion for up to 6 months


if you ring your local council and ask they will send you a form am at that stage now waiting for a form will let you know whats on it and any results

good luck local authority took me to court for eviction court decided i pay £5 above my weekly rent....nothing like the £200 you are paying i just set up a standing order then and everyone is happy

Eager_Elephant

Sorry I have only just come back to this thread.

When you say they worked June - October out wrong, what do you mean?
Do you mean they had the wrong income.? When was the decision made about these months - was it within the last 4 weeks? If not you still may be able to appeal this decision.

You will not be able to apply for DHP for a past period but it may help top up your HB at the moment.

My other concern is with the amount you are paying towards your rent arrears. You need to draw up a financial statement and offer them a realistic amount of money. It is better to offer a lower figure that you can stick to long term than a higher payment that you will fail at.

If it ended up in court for a possession order then you would be made to pay a minimum amount, for people on IS it is £2.90 and for others it is approx £5.00 per week.

The likelihood is that they are pushing for more money to help their recovery figures. If your rent officer/housing officer will not listen take it higher.

If you do not fell you could manage this I suggest you contact CAB or if you PM me with the town you live I will hopefully be able to find other advice charities who will be able to help.

I think with mental health issues you need more support than normal so having a support worker or adviser would be ideal.

EE