DHP expenditure, council makes it up itself

Our local authority has a policy of applying its own expenditure figures when considering a DHP request rather than going on the client’s actual expenditure, as evidenced on the DHP application. This can work for the applicant on occasion, for example, if they have low gas + electricity usage the LA automatically ups it to the standard amount it uses when calculating if applicant can ‘afford’ to pay Bedroom Tax. But it can also work against them as certain expenditure is simply ignored, or reduced to a standard amount.

In particular, people’s transport costs seem to be either disregarded entirely or restricted to the amount of DLA mobility they receive (use of DLA income when considering expenditure is another issue). Certain other expenditure is not taken into account, even though the claimant may be contractually obliged to pay it for a fixed period (e.g. Sky TV).

Do other authorities do this and has anyone challenged them?

A few years ago our council accepted a suggesting to use the Trigger figures from Money Advice Trust as a good start though they will accept where there is a good reason for a higher figure

Since then we havent had any real issue with DHP, it was a good opportunity for us to put joint working in practice

Prior to that there were occasions where some expenditure wasnt accepted

There have been occasions where clients have been advised to reconsider where the figure was very low ( below the MAT ones) by the council which I think was very positive
The trigger figures allow different household sizes with ‘reasonable’ amounts

@JFSelby: Presumably, the trigger figures are an upper limit, rather than a standard sum, with higher amounts requiring justification? Does the Local Authority split up expenditure into areas (housekeeping, housing costs etc) in the same way as in the standard budget sheet or does it insist on seeing the specific individual items of expenditure, which it then separates into headings?

I think that’s quite a progressive attitude to take, if it allocates the money efficiently.

The form for expenditure is broken down into
rent
CT
Gas
electric
Water
Home phone
mobile
car tax
Car Ins
Travel( to work etc) fuel
Insurance
Pension payment
TV licence
MAintainence
Cat/store card
Magistrates order
Satellite or cable
School meals
Clothing
Housekeeping(food toiletries)

We tend to do a covering letter if we are doing the form, covering any excesses but with the trigger figures in common use here thats normal

Very occasionally if the client has something very high they are asked to explain in the past things like Satellite and multiple mobile phones caused issue but thats also common with debt clients

I think it saves them time and it also makes it easier to show clients what is likely to be suitable

Also aware the council do allow leeway for emergencies

I think they have a pretty good system yes