discretionary housing payments?

norfolkshops

Can you keep discretionary housing payments?

You are likely to be allowed to keep any discretionary housing payments paid by your council to top-up your housing benefit, even if the payments were made to help with hardship caused by the bedroom tax.


is this right?

nannytone_2

what do you mean by 'can you keep them'?
arent you using the money to pay your rent?

princessdon

Yes if you qualify for the loophole in bedroom tax you will receive a refund of those payments then even if you got additional benefits via discretionary fund you will still be refunded and allowed to keep them.

cattermole

This is because they have no powers to recover DHP.

I don't think this will last long and they will put the powers in place.

But bear in mind that from March they intend to close the loophole, so you will have to start paying the extra amount again.

I think it is highly unlikely those that have received the refund when they got DHP will get DHP again until the original refund runs out, because from the LA's point of view they have been paid twice so should have the money to fund the extra.

So you will need to keep it aside to use from March onwards again.

Ridiculous situation all round, especially for the those having to administer it all.

It was an ill thought out tax that prays on the most disadvantaged in society and the really appalling fact is they new that before they implemented it.

norfolkshops

princessdon wrote: »

Yes if you qualify for the loophole in bedroom tax you will receive a refund of those payments then even if you got additional benefits via discretionary fund you will still be refunded and allowed to keep them.

thank you and i do qualify take care

jacques_chirac

norfolkshops wrote: »

thank you and i do qualify take care

Keep in mind that you are going to need the money once the law is changed in April.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Our local authority isn't bothering to claw back any DHP because we can't.

Although we will probably refuse DHP for anyone who has received a lump sum of HB due to this loophole as they can use the money to pay any shortfall for the coming year.

bloolagoon

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Our local authority isn't bothering to claw back any DHP because we can't.

Although we will probably refuse DHP for anyone who has received a lump sum of HB due to this loophole as they can use the money to pay any shortfall for the coming year.

Well according to DT the "tax" is now dead and buried.