Scottish Discretionary Housing Payment: guidance manual

Section 1: Manual purpose

1.1 This guidance manual is for local authorities (LAs) in Scotland who are responsible for administering Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in connection with the exercise of their power, conferred by section 88(1) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (“the 2018 Act”), to give financial assistance to a qualifying individual to meet, or help towards meeting, the individual’s housing costs. DHPs have been fully devolved in Scotland since 2017. The Scottish scheme for DHPs is established under Part 5 of the 2018 Act as of 1st April 2024.

1.2 The manual provides guidance and advice on good practice which LAs must have regard to when considering payment of DHPs exercised under the power conferred by section 88(1) of the 2018 Act. This is the first guidance issued by Scottish Ministers. The guidance issued by DWP in relation to the previous DHP scheme no longer has effect in Scotland.