Councils Fail To Spend Thousands Earmarked For Housing Poor Tenants

Local authorities are failing to spend thousands of pounds earmarked by the government for needy families that cannot afford rent and other housing costs. New figures show that nearly £1m of the £20m set aside for discretionary housing payments in 2010-11 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was left untouched by councils. Six authorities spent less than half the money they were allocated. Discretionary housing payments (DHPs) are available to people facing financial hardship who are entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit, but need further help paying rent or other housing costs. Most DHP claims are made by private renters who receive housing benefit in the form of local housing allowance (LHA), although the payments can also be awarded to council and housing association tenants. Read more and find details of all DHP underspends on the Guardian website.