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Due to essential maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 6.00pm on Monday 2 October until 8.00am on Tuesday 3 October: our online council tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. You will also not be able to register to pay council tax online, make a change of address for council tax or cancel single person discount. You are still able to make a payment during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)


If you are a tenant and need extra help to meet your housing costs, you may be able to claim DHP.

DHPs can only be made to tenants who are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.  

A DHP is not a benefit payment, it's a standalone, short term payment.

We award these payments if we think that they will help you sort out your housing and money problems in the longer term. You have to show that you are doing everything you can to address your housing or money problems. These problems might include difficulty to find a home or get a job, debts, or benefits and welfare issues.

Apply for DHP

If you want to apply for DHP you can:

  • contact your landlord if you rent from a housing association to see if they can help
  • contact us
Contact us
Customer Services
03000 26 0000