Publicising Discretionary Hardship Fund Criticised

A call on councils to more aggressively promote a hardship fund by the DWP has been criticised.  DWP guidance called on councils to ‘raise awareness’ of discretionary housing payments, which are used to help people who can’t pay their rent.  It suggests 15 ways councils can do this, including using leaflets, posters, social media, local radio, council websites and including information on all housing benefit decision notices.  However, Nigel Minto, head of housing at umbrella body London Councils, warned that promoting DHP could give people false hope and lead to authorities having to spend time advising people who may falsely believe they are eligible. He said: ‘As soon as you get into publicising anything discretionary you set hares running and unfairly raise expectation.’  Read more on Inside Housing.