Issue - meetings

An update on discretionary housing payment at the request of a previous meeting.

The Scrutiny Commission received a report on the discretionary housing payments scheme, following a request for an update at a previous meeting. It was explained that the scheme provided help to claimants who received housing benefit, but who needed further financial assistance with housing costs and was funded by a government grant.

In response to a member’s question about how much of the funding had been unused and returned to the DWP since the start of the scheme, it was reported that, following a change in the criteria, all monies had been allocated and, for 2015-16, approval had been sought to use some of the HRA budget that had been ringfenced for supporting tenants to fund further awards. A member asked whether the scheme for further awards would be continuing, as the report seemed to suggest it would not, and officers agreed to confirm its continuation to members.

Members noted the report and the valuable work to support tenants.