Discretionary Housing Payments
Councils are either reviewing Discretionary Housing Payment refusals or integrating them into new Crisis and Resilience Funds.
Westminster Council's Discretionary Housing Payments Review Advisory Panel was scheduled to consider three requests to review refusals to grant payments in September 2026. This follows similar meetings in July 2026 and June 2026, where the panel considered review requests. In April 2026, the panel was also scheduled to discuss changes to Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) and review three refusals. The panel often holds these reviews in private to protect personal information, as noted in July 2025.
Other councils are moving to replace Discretionary Housing Payments with new funding structures. Bromley Council approved an £8.9 million Crisis and Resilience Fund in March 2026, which includes "Housing Payments" to replace DHPs from April 2026 to March 2029. Similarly, Haringey Council's Cabinet Member Signing approved measures for an interim 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy in July 2026 to support residents facing financial hardship.
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are financial assistance provided by local councils to help residents with housing costs, particularly those on benefits. In September 2025, Enfield Council resolved to disregard military compensation when assessing applications for discretionary support, ensuring fair access to benefits for its Armed Forces community.
Key facts
- Bromley Council approved £8.9 million for a new Crisis and Resilience Fund in March 2026, which includes Housing Payments to replace DHPs. Source
- Westminster Council's panel reviewed appeals against DHP refusal in November 2025. Source
- Enfield Council resolved to disregard military compensation for discretionary support assessments in September 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.