Discretionary Housing Payments: Crisis & Resilience Fund, Housing Payments

If you need help with your rent

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are additional payments towards rent if you are suffering financial hardship.

From 1st April 2026: the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is discontinued and has been replaced by the Housing Payment, administered under the Crisis & Resilience Fund.

The procedures and eligibility rules for the Crisis & Resilience Fund Housing Payment (CRF-HP) remain identical to those previously used for DHP. Therefore, please note that any mention of 'DHP' on this page should be understood to also refer to the Crisis & Resilience Fund Housing Payment (CRF-HP).

To get a DHP you must be receiving the housing costs element of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or Local Housing Allowance.

DHPs are paid from a limited budget and each request is considered on its own merits.

Who is eligible to receive a DHP

DHPs are to help those experiencing financial difficulties pay their rent. We cannot award DHPs to help with any of the following:

service charges not covered by Housing Benefit
to clear rent arrears only
when your Housing Benefit is suspended
your rent if you are only entitled to Council Tax Support
if the only benefit you receive is Second Adult Rebate

How the decision to award is made

We consider the following things when you apply for a DHP:

your income and expenditure
your savings
whether you have any loans or debts
the financial circumstances of anyone who lives with you
whether you or anyone who lives with you is ill or disabled
any exceptional circumstances
whether you have tried to put the situation right yourself

How much can be awarded and for how long?

We look at each case individually. We will write to you to tell you how much we have awarded and the period we have awarded it for.

If your application is not successful, or you disagree with how much you have been awarded you can appeal. This must be done in writing within one calendar month of the date on your decision letter.

If you are awarded a DHP and your circumstances then change you must tell us in writing straight away:

Tell us about a change

Apply for Discretionary Housing Payments

Crisis & Resilience Fund Housing Payments Application form - to hand write (244KB)

Need advice?

If you need more help please contact the Customer Service Team using the relevant "report an issue" link (for Adur or Worthing) in the page footer below.

You can also get independent advice from Citizens Advice.

Back to top