In certain circumstances we can make a discretionary housing payment to give you extra help with your rent or Council Tax (or both). We look at every claim individually, however the overall amount of extra payment is restricted by Government limits. 'Discretionary' means we have a choice whether to make an award or not.
When a discretionary housing payment can be made
We can only consider making a discretionary housing payment if you are already entitled to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, and these conditions also apply:
- the benefit you receive now, after taking off any amounts that we cannot help you with, does not cover your rent and Council Tax in full
- your circumstances justify extra financial help
You can find out more about the Discretionary Housing Payments by clicking on the link below to download a leaflet about this scheme.
How to make a claim
You can download the leaflet using the link above, it is the application form too. Once you have completed the form, please return it to the Benefit Office:
Benefits Section
St Albans District Council
Civic Centre
St Peters Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3JE
What happens next?
We will look at your application and decide whether we can award you additional help with your rent and/or Council Tax. If we need more information before making a decision, we may:
- telephone you
- write to you
- visit you
- ask you to provide documents to support anything you have stated in your letter.
For example, if you have given us details about your health, or the health if anyone in your household, we might ask for a letter from a doctor.
If we make the award:
- we will write and tell you how much you will be paid and how long you will receive this additional help for.
- we may reduce or stop the award if you circumstances change, or if we reach the government spending limit
If we decide that we
cannot make the award we will write to you and explain the reasons for our decision.
If we decide
not to make the award and you do not agree with our decision, you can ask us to look at your application again. You will need to write to us and explain why you think our decision is wrong. Your request will then be reconsidered by a different member of staff who has not dealt with your claim before.
Completing the Discretionary Housing Payment application form:
Please answer the questions as fully as possible. The more information you give us, the better we will be able to understand your circumstances and your need for extra financial help.
If you need more space to write in, please use a separate piece of paper and enclose it with the form when you return it.
Date of last review: 26 August 2008