Housing Payments

Housing Payments are for people who are entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with housing costs towards rental liability. That includes some shared ownership cases where there is a rental liability. The guidance also says entitlement can include people who qualify for one of those benefits but have not yet received payment. 

Housing Payments can help with a range of eligible housing-cost pressures. Government guidance says funding may be used for rent deposits, rent in advance, costs linked to securing housing or downsizing such as removal expenses or tenancy setup, and shortfalls between benefit support and actual rent. It can also be used in some cases involving the benefit cap, the removal of the spare room subsidy, certain ineligible service charges, rent increases linked to arrears, some sanctions or benefit reductions, overpayment recovery and some benefit suspensions. 

Housing Payments are not for everyone with housing pressure. The guidance makes clear that people who are not entitled to a qualifying benefit or who are owner-occupiers are not eligible for Housing Payments. Where someone cannot access a Housing Payment, the local authority may still consider help through the Crisis Payment route if the person meets that scheme’s rules. 

Housing Payments are delivered locally, so councils decide how to run them within the government guidance. Every authority must operate a Housing Payment scheme that accepts applications continuously throughout the year, and authorities can either run the scheme themselves or use delegated delivery partners. Authorities must also provide at least two application routes, such as online, telephone or face-to-face access. 

Housing Payments may be paid through Housing Benefit systems, alongside Housing Benefit, aligned with Universal Credit schedules, or in some cases paid to third parties such as landlords. Unlike Crisis Payments, Housing Payments can be paid in multiple instalments, and councils have discretion to backdate awards where appropriate.

There is no single national Housing Payments application form. The correct route is to check with your local council, because councils decide their application process and evidence requirements locally.

A clear rule of thumb is this: if your difficulty is mainly about rent or another eligible housing cost, and you receive Housing Benefit or the housing-cost element of Universal Credit, Housing Payments are the route to check first. If you do not meet Housing Payment eligibility, your council may still look at support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund’s Crisis Payment route. 

Discretionary Housing Payments came to an end in England on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026, the Housing Payment strand of the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced DHP in England and was designed to closely replicate the previous DHP approach while moving into the new fund structure. 

Find your local council 

Crisis and Resilience Fund guidance for local authorities in England 

Housing Payment section of the official guidance 

Get help through the Crisis and Resilience Fund from your local council