Discretionary Housing Payments in Scotland: 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023

Applications figures are for applications received during the period 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023, while figures for determinations and awards are for any applications processed during the same period (Table 2). Between 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2023:

Local authorities received approximately 95,665 applications for DHPs and made 115,945 decisions. Three local authorities made more decisions than they received applications – the reasons for this are explained in the data quality section.

During the same period local authorities made 112,895 DHP awards. Seven local authorities made more awards than they received applications. One reason for this is that multiple awards can be made on one application, and this means that the figure for number of awards does not equate to the number of people receiving awards.

The total value of awards was £76.1 million, which was 9% greater than at the same point in the previous year (Chart 1), and the average award value was £674, which was higher than at the same point in the previous year (£623). It should be noted that the value of awards includes funds committed but not yet spent.