What could this payment from the council be?

[OneForTheRoadThen]

FIL has advanced Alzheimer's and has just gone into a home. DH has POA so is trying to wrap everything up.

There's a monthly payment from the Council for about £300 that we can't work out what it's for. It's not council tax credit as he has a zero bill. It's not attendance allowance or pensions.

What could it be? The council don't seem to know either! We want to cancel it before it needs to be repaid.

Did he rent? Discretionary housing payment?

Thanks @AwkwardPaws27 yes he did rent. Maybe that's it - is that like housing benefit?

Also it was a private rent. I know most benefits come from DWP not the council which is why we can't locate it

It could be housing benefit paid to subsidise your fil rent. People over retirement age still get hb from the council unlike younger people who usually get it as part of their universal credit. Hope that helps.

@OneForTheRoadThen they mostly come from DWP but DHP is from local councils - DWP cap what they'll pay for a property in the area (LHA - local housing allowance) but if your rent exceeds that you can sometimes claim extra (DHP) from a local council fund.

Thank you both! We will try that

It will likely be housing benefit which is paid by the council.

Housing benefit would also be paid by the council , not by DWP,.

Thanks @Babyroobs

Depending on when he moved it could be a rebate for his council tax.

Op when you say he has a zero council tax bill, is that because he received pension credit ?

We're not sure. We did speak to the council tax department and they said he wasn't liable to pay anything. Perhaps because if his Alzheimer's?

The nil Council tax bill will be for severe mental impairment.

Severe mental impairment disregard only reduces council tax bill by 25% authority. I doubt it would reduce the council tax bill to zero unless he has other council tax support.

Thanks @Babyroobs I'll get DH to call them again.

We've called them and it was housing benefit. Thanks for all your help.