Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who want to access Discretionary Housing Payments are not blocked by overly strict criteria set by local authorities.

Discretionary Housing Payments are specifically used for the purpose of helping individuals with their housing costs provided they are in receipt of either Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit.

These payments are very flexible and can be considered where, in the local authority’s opinion, further financial assistance towards housing costs is required. Local Authorities are able to set their own policy, criteria and application process with payments being made entirely at their discretion.