Discretionary housing payments provide Birmingham rental assistance

For local residents unable to pay their landlords, Birmingham rental assistance is possible thanks to discretionary housing payments that were authorised by the government. These payments can give you the cash you need to pay rent when a financial crisis occurs.

Ever since the Council Tax Benefit was squashed, local residents in need of rental aid have had fewer options available to them. Many people have been struggling to receive some form of financial assistance with those recent changes. A new option is available now, thanks to an allocation of funds that are under control of the Birmingham City Council.

If you are already receiving Housing Benefit but are still not able to make your full rent payment, then this programme is designed to help you cover the difference. This is not a permanent subsidy. Instead it is expected that the funds would help you get through a temporary hardship and remain current on your rent payments. It specifically is implemented to help those that lost Council Tax Benefit.

Council Tax Support

The discretionary housing payments are made possible by the implementation of Council Tax Support. The government recognises that some tenants who are unable to afford their rent may have been left out by policy changes in 2013. So they created a new programme. This funding is designed to provide a replacement for rental assistance payments that were eliminated under the Council Tax Benefit closure.

The Council Tax Support Discretionary Fund can provide protection for tenants meeting certain requirements, including pensioners, those entitled to disability premium or those entitled to Employment Support Allowance who are already receiving benefit due to disability. Other situations may also meet requirements.

Remember that this is a hardship payment scheme that is only intended to help with temporary circumstances. Anyone who was receiving Council Tax Benefit before can explore this new resource. More than likely they will be eligible for the new Council Tax Support. Or there are also other disability benefits that Birmingham tenants can apply for.

Birmingham Local Welfare Provision

Grants for rental aid are available thanks to the Welfare scheme that was set up locally. This discretionary rental assistance programme provides financial help to tenants who are experiencing a serious financial hardship. It is for emergencies and is not a permanent subsidy.

To be considered for a grant, you must first complete an application with the Birmingham City Council. Be prepared to answer questions about your overall financial situation, including income. You will also need to prove that you have exhausted all other means of support, including family help and aid from other agencies. Denial letters and other documentation can be useful to show this effort.

If you are granted funds to pay your rent, you will not have to repay the funds to the Council. There is no loan to repay. So this is a major benefit to this. In addition, crisis grants may be provided for paying expenses other than rent, such as pre-paid cards for food or help with gas and electricity bills.

For more information about these schemes, call Social Services at 0121 675 4806 or the Homelessness division at 0121 303 7410. Or read more Birmingham Local Welfare Provision.