| What can Discretionary Housing Payments cover? | | | | | What can Discretionary Housing Payments cover? | | <div class="ExternalClass16062EB8A1B54F14B91C32D8D3B96D8A"><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be used to:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li>help with rent shortfalls</li>
<li>help with rent deposit or bond</li>
<li>help with rent in advance</li>
<li>help with rent arrears</li>
</ul>
<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div> | | | |
| I’m facing eviction – can you help with rent arrears? | | | | | I’m facing eviction – can you help with rent arrears? | | <div class="ExternalClassA378005F4D0142EC89E1DAFA6E05DA73"><p>If you are being evicted for rent arrears and have (or had) a shortfall in your rent, a one-off or a backdated payment of Discretionary Housing Payments can be made to help clear or reduce your rent arrears. However, an award will not be made if you were receiving enough Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to cover all of your rent at the time the arrears built up.</p>
<p>You must be able to show you have exceptional circumstances why you need to remain in the property and you are unable to afford the arrears yourself.</p>
<p>If you apply for Discretionary Housing Payments for this purpose, you need to provide proof of your rent arrears from the time they accrued. You do not need to provide proof if you are a council tenant.</p>
</div> | | | |
| How we decide who can have Discretionary Housing Payments | | | | | How we decide who can have Discretionary Housing Payments | | <div class="ExternalClass742F02D68E3C48CE9D3722976D4F4CE3"><p><br>DHP funding comes from central Government and is limited each year. Once the funding has been spent, no more awards can be made. We aim to make sure that payments are made to those who are most in need.</p>
<p>We look at the following when we make a decision:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li>your income;</li>
<li>your savings;</li>
<li>if anyone else in your house can help you;</li>
<li>if you have any loans or debts;</li>
<li>if you could manage your money better;</li>
<li>if you or anyone in your family is ill or disabled; and</li>
<li>if you have tried to put the situation right</li>
</ul>
<br>
<p>We will not usually pay Discretionary Housing Payments if we think you can deal with the shortfall in other ways such as:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li>claiming other benefits you may be entitled to</li>
<li>negotiating any debt repayments</li>
<li>cutting down on unnecessary and avoidable expenses</li>
<li>using your savings to cover the shortfall for a period</li>
<li>any contributions that are or could be made by a non-dependant</li>
<li>whether it is possible for you to move</li>
<li>how long it will take you to find suitable alternative accommodation</li>
<li>possibility of eviction</li>
</ul>
<br>
<p>This is for guidance only. We treat every case on its own merits and may also take into account other factors that we have not mentioned above.</p>
</div> | | | |
| I need help with a deposit for rent, bond or a rent in advance payment | | | | | I need help with a deposit for rent, bond or a rent in advance payment | | <div class="ExternalClass3901A515C0464385963D9CA8D992C256"><p>If you need help to move to somewhere more suitable, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the rent deposit, bond or rent in advance. However, you can only receive help with one of these.</p>
<p>You should only apply for help:</p>
<br>
<ul><li>once you have found a suitable property, and</li>
<li>the landlord or agent agrees that you can rent it, and</li>
<li>you have been refused help from <a href="/residents/pages/leeds-housing-options.aspx">
<strong>Leeds Housing Options</strong></a> or the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/how-it-works"><strong>Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) budgeting loan</strong></a> – if you are eligible to apply.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<p>An award can only be made to help you secure the tenancy – if you’ve already signed the tenancy agreement or moved in, you have already secured the tenancy and an award will not be made.</p>
<p>Payments for a rent deposit, bond or rent in advance will be made payable to the new landlord – either by crossed cheque or straight into the landlord’s bank account.</p>
<p>If an award is made, you must complete a <a href="/residents/Pages/help-with-rent-council-tax-and-school-meals.aspx"><strong>Housing Benefit Change of Address form</strong></a> and bring in a copy of your new tenancy agreement. <span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></p></div> | | | |
| What cannot be covered by Discretionary Housing Payments? | | | | | What cannot be covered by Discretionary Housing Payments? | | <div class="ExternalClass80CDC31915A44C0780F9075871639AFF"><p>Discretionary Housing Payments cannot be used to pay for:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li>help with Council Tax</li>
<li>service charges not covered by Housing Benefit (gas, electric, water, meals)</li>
<li>increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears</li>
<li>reduced income caused by sanctions or reductions</li>
<li>a shortfall in your Housing Benefit due to repaying overpaid Housing Benefit</li>
<li>extra payments you are making to clear rent arrears</li>
<li>removal costs. However, you may be eligible for help from Leeds Local Welfare Support Scheme, ring <strong>0113 376 0330</strong></li>
<li>a<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span> notice period if you have had to move properties at short notice. You may be able to get help with this by claiming for “Housing Benefit on 2 homes”, ring <strong>0113 222 4404</strong> or approach your nearest One Stop Centre</li>
</ul>
</div> | | | |
| What if my circumstances change? | | | | | What if my circumstances change? | | <div class="ExternalClassE31E7B0305384AB2AF5A69E968E410C6"><p>Discretionary Housing Payments are based on your circumstances at the time you apply. If your circumstances change, you must tell us straight away as this could affect how much you receive.</p></div> | | | |
| What if I disagree with a decision? | | | | | What if I disagree with a decision? | | <div class="ExternalClassBBBD629A7A904FDEB5FDB682D0F63963"><p>If you disagree with our decision not to give you Discretionary Housing Payments, the amount we have decided to give you or how long we will pay you, you can ask us to look at the decision again.</p>
<p>You should write to us within one calendar month of the date of the decision letter, telling us why you do not agree with our decision. </p>
<p>Your case will be reviewed by another officer who will then make a final decision. You have no further right of appeal against the final decision. You cannot appeal to the Tribunals Service.</p>
</div> | | | |
| What if I’m overpaid? | | | | | What if I’m overpaid? | | <div class="ExternalClass9BA38B819CD74EA08BEF2ED41770FCC6"><p>Overpayments usually occur if:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li>your entitlement to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit ends </li>
<li>your entitlement to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit increases</li>
<li>your circumstances change</li>
</ul>
<br>
<p>If you are overpaid Discretionary Housing Payments, you will have to pay this money back to us. We will not take any deductions from any on-going Housing Benefit you have. Instead we will send you an invoice asking for repayment.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></p></div> | | | |
| Where can I get further help and advice? | | | | | Where can I get further help and advice? | | <div class="ExternalClassF3F72DD0E09345469F3F81233E6D790D"><p><a href="/residents/pages/leeds-housing-options.aspx"><strong>Leeds Housing Options</strong></a> offer advice to people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or simply want advice about housing options. Telephone <strong>0113 222 4412</strong>.</p>
<p>Leeds City Council <a href="/residents/Pages/Welfare-Rights.aspx"><strong>Welfare Rights Unit</strong></a> gives free, confidential, impartial advice and support on a range of welfare benefits. They can check you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to, help you to complete forms and offer guidance when making appeals. Telephone <strong>0113 376 0452</strong>.</p>
<p>Leeds Local Welfare Support Scheme is designed to help families and single vulnerable people under exceptional pressure to get help with food, fuel, travel and removal costs and basic household goods. Telephone <strong>0113 376 0330</strong>.</p>
<p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers <a href="https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/how-it-works"><strong>budgeting loans</strong></a> or <a href="https://www.gov.uk/short-term-benefit-advance"><strong>short term advances</strong></a> to certain people who require emergency support.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/leeds/pages/green-doctor-leeds"><strong>Groundwork’s Green Doctor</strong></a> service is a free service to people on low income on how to use less energy, keep warm and save money. Telephone <strong>0113 238 0601</strong>.</p>
<p>You can get free and confidential advice about debt and managing your money from:</p>
<br>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nationaldebtline.org/"><strong>National Debtline</strong></a> telephone <strong>0808 808 4000</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en"><strong>Money Advice Service</strong></a> telephone <strong>0800 138 7777<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stepchange.org/"><strong>Stepchange Debt Charity</strong></a> telephone <strong>0800 138 1111</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://www.citizensadviceleeds.org.uk/"><strong> Leeds Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)</strong></a> telephone <strong>0113 223 4400</strong></li>
<li><a href="http://www.betterleeds.org.uk/"><strong>Better Leeds Communities</strong></a> telephone <strong>0113 275 4142</strong></li>
<li><a href="http://stvincents-svp.org.uk/"><strong>St Vincent's</strong></a> telephone <strong>0113 248 4126</strong></li>
<li><a href="http://leedsmoneybuddies.weebly.com/"><strong>Leeds Money Buddies</strong></a> telephone <strong>0113 235 0276</strong></li>
</ul>
</div> | | | |
| What types of shortfall in rent can it cover? | | | | | What types of shortfall in rent can it cover? | | <div class="ExternalClass1B4A1C734D254A189979B49918AFDD7E"><p>There are a number of reasons why the amount of Housing Benefit, or the housing costs element of Universal Credit, you receive is less than the rent you have to pay. These are the main types of shortfall DHP can cover:<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></p>
<br><ul><li>Social Size Criteria – also known as the ‘under-occupancy charge’ or ‘bedroom tax'</li>
<li>Non-dependant deduction – you have an adult living with you who is not a partner, joint tenant or boarder</li>
<li>Baby due – you have moved into a bigger property as your family size is due to increase</li>
<li>Benefit Cap – your benefits have been capped</li>
<li>Local Housing Allowance – you are only entitled to the rate for a shared room or the maximum rate for 4 bedrooms</li>
<li>Any other reason than the above – for example, your income is too high to be entitled to full help with your rent</li></ul>
</div> | | | |
