Direct payment guidance

Grounds for direct payment and acceptable evidence

Long Term

Grounds

Example Evidence

The tenant has a learning disability that prevents them from managing on a daily basis.

Care/Support workers

GP

Adult Social Care

DWP (evidence of benefits)

The tenant suffers from a medical condition that makes it hard for them to cope with routine tasks e.g. schizophrenia, dementia, terminal illness.

Care/Support Workers

GP

Adult Social Care Hospital

The tenant has a physical disability that means that they are often housebound making it difficult for them to manage their affairs.

Care/Support Workers

GP

Adult Social Care

Hospital

Temporary/Short-Term

 

Grounds

Example Evidence

The tenant has experienced recent changes that has meant they need additional support in managing their affairs e.g. bereavement, violent relationship breakdown, period in hospital, leaving prison, leaving care, police protection.

Care/Support workers

GP

Adult Social Care

Hospital

Probation officers

Family/Friends

Police

The tenant speaks English only as a second language, presenting obstacles to them in opening and running bank accounts, reading and dealing with invoices and bills.

Written Evidence from Support Organisations that arrears/debts have occurred as a result of not understanding correspondence

The tenant is dealing with, or has a history of, addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling and a substantial monetary payment to them would present a risk of relapse.

Support Organisations

GP

Adult Social Care

Hospital

Care/Support Worker

Supporting People

The tenant has as history of homelessness and/or rough sleeping and is receiving help to sustain a tenancy in the private sector.

Housing Advice

Advice/Welfare Agencies

Homelessness Teams

Financial

 

Grounds

Example Evidence

The tenant has severe debt problems e.g. County Court Judgements (CCJ’s), bad credit rating that prevents opening bank accounts, un-discharged bankruptcy.

Creditors

Court Orders

Solicitors

Money Advisor

DWP deduction in benefit to pay utility company

The above list is not exhaustive and there may be other causes of vulnerability that may prevent the tenant from managing their affairs and coping with direct payments of Local Housing Allowance.


Last Updated on Wednesday, May 8, 2024