Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment

You may be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment if:

If you live in Scotland, a Discretionary Housing Payment can help you if you’re affected by the bedroom tax or benefit cap.

When you can apply

You could get a payment if benefits do not cover all your rent because:

you’re affected by the benefit cap
you have one or more spare rooms in a council or housing association house – sometimes called the bedroom tax

In some cases, you can also apply to pay for:

removal costs
rent in advance
a tenancy deposit
some of your rent, if the Local Housing Allowance rate does not cover all your rent

Contact your local council to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Find out about Discretionary Housing Payments

If the council gives you a payment, they should tell you:

The council can review if you still need a payment. For example, checking if you’re still affected by the bedroom tax.

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