Profiling your DHP budget

Deven and Zoe discuss how local authorities can spend their DHP budgets most effectively, to ensure people who need the support the most receive it.Central government has increased the DHP budget by £35m in 2017-2018 to help with the transition of welfare reforms and it is important that the increased funding is made available to those who need it most.
Whilst some assessments of the impact of reforms have taken place, DWP advise local authorities to carry out more detailed work to identify those most in need of discretionary support.
You may want to profile your caseload to identify certain groups among those potentially affected by the changes, and establish the level of demand among those groups. Although DWP has already carried out various Equality Impact Assessments in relation to HB reform you may want to carry out a more detailed assessment for your area. Discretionary Housing Payments Guidance Manual, DWP, Dec 2016
Policy in Practice has helped local authorities identify individual households most at risk from aggregate and cumulative welfare reforms so that support programmes can be targeted where they are most needed.
Listen back to hear:
- How DHP money is spent nationwide and why underspends occur
- How to identify individual households most in need and what support they need
- How to know if your DHP support is reaching the right people
- Where to target your DHP engagement campaigns
View the full slide deck (no audio) hereDownload Tracking Living Standards leaflet here
Download Universal Credit Roadmap here