Scores could be missing out on rental help

Local households could be missing out on extra help with their rent and other housing costs, through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), the county council believes.

It has used data analytics to identify up to 140 Powys homes and will be writing to all of them over the next few weeks to encourage them to check if they are eligible.

If they are, they could get extra money on top of their Housing Benefit or the Housing Costs element of their Universal Credit.

The council believes around 40 of them are its own tenants, while the rest are living in private rented accommodation or homes provided by other social landlords (housing associations).

The letter from the council explains what DHP is, and offers help with applications, if needed.

A DHP can be used to cover housing costs, such as:

• A rent shortfall
• A deposit or rent in advance if you need to move home
• Help to move house if it's to improve your rental situation
• In some cases, a payment towards rent arrears if you are facing eviction

A claim can be made online through the council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/discretionaryhousingpayments or calling 01597 827462.

“If you are struggling to cover your rent or household bills, please don’t wait – support is available,” said Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys. “If you’re finding it hard to manage, please reach out. We may be able to help with a top-up to your housing costs.”

Powys County Council has invested in intelligent data analytics software for a year called LIFT (Low Income Family Tracker), to help identify people in need of help.

In June it wrote to nearly 900 Powys households it believed could be struggling financially as bills and other prices rise. And in August it wrote to 700 people it thought could be missing out on Personal Independence Payments.

Free and confidential money advice is available at any time.

Get help as a council tenant:

• Phone: 01597 827464
• Email: fsogroup@powys.gov.uk
• Website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/Financial-Support-Officers-Information

For all other households:

• Phone: 01597 826618
• E-mail: moneyadvice@powys.gov.uk
• Website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/moneyadvice