Renfrewshire Council

What the Benefit Cap is

The Benefit Cap is the limit on the total amount in benefits that most working-age people can claim. It applies to all the benefits your household gets.

The current benefit caps are:

• £384.62 per week for single parents and couples with children
• £257.69 per week for single people. 

Who can get it

You can get the financial support if you: 

• are affected by the benefit cap
• cannot cover your rent or housing costs.

Before you apply

Information you need to tell us in your application

You'll need to tell us your:

• full name
• date of birth
• National Insurance (NI) number
• contact phone number
• email address.

We'll also need the bank or building society details to make the payment including the:

• account holder's title and name
• sort code
• account number. 

How to apply

Apply online

Apply online for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

Other ways to apply

If you need help to apply, you can contact our Advice Works team

• online 
• by phone 0300 300 1238
• email adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

After you've applied

We'll send you a confirmation email with a case reference number.

We'll then check of the details you've provided and contact you if we need any more information. We aim to process your application within one month. 

If you're eligible, we'll let you know by email or letter that you'll get the Discretionary Housing Payment. 

We will pay it monthly directly to the bank account you have specified in your application form.

Ask us to review a decision

If we do not grant you a Discretionary Housing Payment, there is no right of appeal, but you can ask for the decision to be looked at again by a different Senior Assessor if you disagree with it. 

If you want to do this, write to the Benefits Service within two weeks of the date on the decision letter, stating why you think the decision is wrong. 

The postal address is:

Renfrewshire Council
Benefits Service
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AD.