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Discretionary Housing Payments

30th November 2019

The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme provides financial assistance towards housing costs for those claiming housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. Statistics released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician show that during the period 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019, Local Authorities in Scotland made 99,910 awards under the DHP scheme, with a total value of £59.1 million and an average award of £592.

Local Authorities received 87,785 applications from 1 April to 30 September 2019. Each application - sometimes made in the previous financial year - can have multiple decisions attached to it. As a result, local authorities processed 103,785 determinations over the year.

These figures are likely to include a sizeable number of cases affected by the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS) (the "bedroom tax"), where Local Authorities have continued to make up the shortfall in tenants’ weekly rent through the use of DHPs. The Scottish Government is committed to reimbursing Local Authorities for the impact of the RSRS.