If the amount of Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of your Universal Credit you receive does not cover your full rent, you may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to help you pay the shortfall so that you can remain in your property.
If you need to move urgently e.g. you are being evicted or you are homeless or you are fleeing violence, we may be able to help you with money towards a bond to move to a private sector tenancy but before submitting an application please contact the council’s Housing Options team on 01253 477760 or by email to housing.options@blackpool.gov.uk
To be eligible to claim this DHP you must be entitled to Housing Benefit from Blackpool Council or the housing costs element of Universal Credit and living in the Blackpool Council area.
If you need extra help towards your Council Tax after claiming Council Tax Reduction you may qualify for a Council Tax Discretionary Discount.
You will need to complete an online application form, and we will look at your personal and financial circumstances.
For example:
- Your income
- Whether you have any savings
- Whether anyone else in the house is able to help you pay your rent
- Whether you have any loans or debts still to pay
- Whether you could manage your money better to ease the situation
- Whether you or your family are ill or disabled
Once you have submitted your application you will need to send us some supporting evidence, and the things we need and how to get these to us is explained on the application form. If you need help to complete your application and you have no family or friends who can help you, you can visit any Blackpool library and the staff there will help you.
Please note we receive a high number of applications which are processed in the date order they are received. We process these as quickly as possible however it may be several weeks before we contact you about your application.
Payment policies
Blackpools benefit service has a discretionary housing payment policy that provides further information regarding who the scheme has been designed to offer extra financial support to.
You can request this by emailing discretionarysupport@blackpool.gov.uk
More information about a Council Tax discretionary discount.