Housing Payments

Housing Payments are extra help from the Crisis and Resilience Fund. You can apply if you need support to pay your rent or removal costs.

You may be able to get a Housing Payment if either:

  • your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs do not cover your full rent
  • you are affected by a benefit reduction and need help to make up the difference
  • you need help with removal costs when moving to cheaper or more suitable accommodation

We may award a payment to help you stay in your home. This is more likely if you have a disability, have adapted your home to meet your needs, or need to move and make essential changes. We may also help with removal costs if you are moving to a more affordable or appropriate property.

Read our Housing Payment policy statement and procedures (PDF).

Who can apply

You can apply for a Housing Payment if:

  • are currently claiming Housing Benefit and are having problems paying your rent
  • get housing costs through your Universal Credit and are having problems paying your rent
  • are moving to smaller or cheaper accommodation and cannot afford the removal costs

You must also have an up‑to‑date claim for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or Universal Credit before we can assess your application.

Where you cannot claim a Housing Payment

We cannot give a Housing Payment to help with:

  • service charges that are not covered by rental benefits
  • rent arrears or Council Tax
  • deductions taken from your benefit to recover an advance, loan, arrears or other debt
  • rent payments if your benefit claim has been suspended or is not yet being paid

Apply for a Housing Payment

Your Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or Universal Credit claim must be correct and up to date before we can make a decision on your Housing Payment request.

You must provide evidence to support your application. Provide as much information as you can. If you do not give details about your household income, savings and money you spend, we may have to refuse your application.

If you apply online, your supporting documents must be scanned or saved and ready to upload.

You need to provide the following evidence depending on your circumstances:

Where a household member is an adult student

  • Student certificate

A household member’s receipt of Universal Credit

  • Downloaded copy of Universal Credit assessment, or
  • Full screenshot(s) of Universal Credit assessment from top to bottom. Make sure you capture name and address at the very top all the way through to the exact amount paid after any reductions/deductions have been taken into account at the very bottom, and everything inbetween (if anything is missing, the DHP is unlikely to be awarded)

Childcare costs

  • Proof of recent costs

Home rental with a private landlord

  • Most recent tenancy agreement and any subsequent rent update documents

Home rental with a housing association

  • Recent rental statement and proof of any recent rent increase, if not showing on the statement

Legal proceedings for rent arrears

  • Notice to quit
  • Possession order

Funding needed for move to more affordable housing

  • Housing removal quotation

Balance of all bank accounts for all household members

  • Recent bank statement

Other supporting evidence, depending on circumstances

  • Letters or documents detailing medical condition(s)
  • Care orders
  • Correspondence relating to tenancy or landlord issues
  • Correspondence relating to social services involvement
  • Correspondence relating to debt and advice organisation support

Apply for a Housing Payment

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