Eligibility · Housing Payment (England) / Discretionary Housing Payment
Am I eligible for extra housing payment or Discretionary Housing Payment?
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In short. You can ask your council for extra rent help if you already get Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element and still cannot cover the rent. In England from 1 April 2026 this is a Housing Payment. In Wales it is still a Discretionary Housing Payment. Awards are discretionary.
There is no national rate. Councils decide. Confirm the name of the scheme on your council’s website before you apply.
Last reviewed:
·Amount: Discretionary — often a short-term top-up, a deposit or rent in advance, not the full rentYou likely qualify if…
- You get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit
- There is a shortfall, for example Local Housing Allowance, the spare-room reduction or the benefit cap
- You apply to the council for the area you live in
You likely don't if…
- You do not yet get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs
- You only need help with Council Tax — that is Council Tax Reduction, not this scheme
- You want a long-term rent subsidy as of right — this is not that
How to check and claim
- 01England: search your council site for Housing Payment or Crisis and Resilience Fund
- 02Wales: search Discretionary Housing Payment
- 03Scotland: search your council for discretionary housing payment
FAQ
- Did Discretionary Housing Payment end?
- In England the 2001 scheme ended on 31 March 2026. The replacement is a Housing Payment under the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Wales kept Discretionary Housing Payments.
- Do I repay it?
- No. It is not a loan.