Guides › Rent and Deposits › Rent Higher Than Your Benefit Covers: Housing Payments
Rent Higher Than Your Benefit Covers: Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) ended in England on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026 the Housing Payment strand of the Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced them. It can help with rent shortfalls, deposits and rent in advance if you get Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element. You apply through your council. People with no recourse to public funds cannot receive Housing Payments.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Housing Payments
What Replaced DHPs
DHPs ended in England on 31 March 2026 and are replaced by the Housing Payment strand of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), designed to closely follow existing DHP guidelines, with a phased transition over three years. Awards made before 1 April 2026 are still treated as DHPs. source
What It Can Pay
Housing Payments are for people entitled to Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element and can cover rent shortfalls, rental deposits, rent in advance and the costs of securing or moving to housing. People with No Recourse to Public Funds cannot receive Housing Payments. Crisis Payments (not limited to benefit recipients) can cover food, water, housing costs, energy, clothing and essential items. source
How to Apply
Councils must run schemes that accept applications all year and offer at least two application routes, such as online, phone or face-to-face. Applications can be made on someone's behalf. For urgent Crisis Payments councils should aim to pay within 48 hours of a complete application. source
Older Information
DHP in Wales
GOV.UK's Discretionary Housing Payment page applies to Wales, where DHPs continue, and notes that in England DHP has been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund. DHPs cannot cover council tax. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 31 March 2026DHPs ended in EnglandReplaced by the CRF Housing Payment
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check you get Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element.
Step 2 of 5
Find your council's Crisis and Resilience Fund page.
Step 3 of 5
Apply early and explain your rent shortfall and income.
Step 4 of 5
Ask for a review if you are refused and note your council's rules.
Step 5 of 5
Get money advice if you are falling behind with rent.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Local Council
Housing or environmental health team. It can act on landlord breaches.
MoneyHelper
Free money guidance.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Each council runs its own scheme within the national guidance.
Not available in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland in this form.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/publications/crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029/the-crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029 Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments Checked 14 October 2026
- moneyhelper.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026