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Extra help with your housing costs or Council Tax | Extra help with your housing costs or Council Tax | Birmingham City Council
Extra help with your housing costs or Council Tax

Extra help with your housing costs or Council Tax

You may be able to get extra help if you:

  • need support with rent because Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance or Universal Credit does not cover the full amount
  • are suffering severe financial hardship or your tenancy is at risk
  • are struggling to pay your Council Tax bill

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

DHPs are short-term payments from a limited fund. They are for people experiencing difficult circumstances.

The amount available each year is set by the government.

Council Tax Support Discretionary Hardship Payment

If you continue to experience extreme financial difficulty, you may be able to get extra help through this scheme.

If you already receive Council Tax Support, you do not need to contact us. We will send you a revised bill if any extra reductions apply.

Apply for extra help

You can apply online for:

  • a Discretionary Housing Payment
  • a Council Tax Support Discretionary Hardship Payment

Apply for extra help with housing costs or Council Tax

Page last updated: 18 November 2025

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