DHP for Travel costs

Hi

We have a lot of clients who are being placed out of borough in temporary accommodation, fairly standard. However many of them are incurring travel costs and this is causing issues. Seems that we can request DHP for this - see page 36 of the DHP guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/692240/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf) which states: -

“3.13 The following examples show how DHPs may be used to assist those
affected by the LHA changes.

Example
Harry has to move from his bed-sit in central London as his landlord is
increasing the rent and the shortfall between his UC housing costs will
become unsustainable. His only income is from a part-time job with his
net pay amounting to £520 per month.

With the assistance of his LA he finds a bed-sit in another borough within
the LHA rate with a rent of £500 per month and he receives a direct
payment of UC which includes rental housing costs totalling £380 per
month. He now has bus fares of £80 per month instead of being able to
walk to work. This leaves him struggling to pay his rent and meet his dayto-day
living expenses.

He discusses his problems with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and they
suggest he applies for a DHP. One of the LA’s objectives is to use DHPs
to help people maintain their employment.

The LA carries out an income assessment and establishes that Harry has
the following monthly expenses.

Rent £500
Travel £80
Food £220
Heating £80
Debts £40
General Expenses £80
Total £1,000

This is £100 per month more than his combined income from UC and
earnings of £900 per month. The local authority decides to award him
£50 per month DHP as it considers that while he has shown a need for
further financial assistance with housing costs, he could reasonably be
expected to economise on some of his general expenses and food costs.

The LA makes a 6-month DHP award and also refers him to an advice
agency to discuss his debt arrangements.”

Does anyone have experience of using this argument and or any suggestions to improve the prospects of any requests?

Cheers

How come their HB isn’t meeting the costs of the temporary accommodation in full? Benefit cap? Ineligible charges in the rent? If the rent is being paid in full or the reason for the shortfall is that some of the charges are ineligible for HB then you can’t get a DHP.

Otherwise, assuming that there is a shortfall in the rent, in the example cited the DHP is not being awarded to help with travel costs it is being given to help pay the rent and the travel costs are a relevant factor as to why the claimant is unable to do this without DHP assistance. I think that the most you can take from the example is that unavoidable travel costs should be taken into account by LAs when assessing a claimant’s income/expenditure.

It can be very much in the eye of the beholder what costs are being covered by a DHP, but as far as local authority is concerned a DHP can only cover housing costs.  Other expenses, as has been said, are relevant to the question of ability to meet housing costs, but it is probably best to keep the LA focussed on the housing costs.

Thanks both, makes sense, and agree focus on housing costs!!

Cheers