Discretionary Housing Payments/Exceptional Hardship Payments

If you have an appointment with us about applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment or Exceptional Hardship Payment, this is for information that you will need to supply within the appointment:

• Benefits reference number
  • If you are visiting us for a face to face appointment and do not have a letter containing your benefit claim reference number, please see the webpageother verification options for the other proof of identification that we will accept.
• National Insurance number
• Rent information i.e. how much and frequency
• Information on all income and expenditure
• Information on any debts you have, including payment plans set for these
• Sort code and account number that will receive the payments

Documents required as proof are as follows:

• Two consecutive months bank statements

If the Discretionary Housing Payment request is for rent arrears we will require evidence of the amount of arrears, the date that the arrears started and any payment plans that are in place with the landlord. We are only able to consider Discretionary Housing Payments where you received Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing Costs.

If the application is for a one off payment, we will require evidence of the requirement.