Discretionary Housing Payment

If you get some Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit but are having difficulty paying the rest of your rent or Council Tax yourself, you may be able to get a discretionary housing payment.

When can a discretionary housing payment be made?

A discretionary housing payment can be paid to you if we believe that you need further help with housing costs.

A discretionary housing payment cannot be paid if the reason for the shortfall is that your housing benefit has been reduced to recover an overpayment.

Who can get a discretionary housing payment?

In addition to the above, there are no rules about who can get discretionary housing payments. Waveney District Council is allocated a sum of money from central Government to enable payments to be awarded.

We will usually take into account any special circumstances that contribute to your financial difficulties. We will need to see evidence of your expenses such as your household bills. We will consider the reasons you may need to stay in your property or use the information from your discretionary housing payment application to help you take steps to improve your circumstances.

The Benefits Team works closely with the Housing Options Team and the Citizens Advice Bureau when considering each discretionary housing payment application. An interview may be arranged to discuss the best options available to you.