The reality of Discretionary Housing Payments & Bedroom Tax

From Ian S @cactusjack01 who lives in a Labour controlled council area-

"Following your claim received for the above, I am pleased to advise that an award of Discretionary Housing Payment has been made. The award is as follows:-
Discretionary Housing Payment (Rent)
From 01 Apr 2013 to 02 Jul 2013 an amount of £13.32 per week.
This award will be paid with your Housing Benefit payments.
Please be aware that payments from the discretionary housing fund are designed as a short term solution for applicants who are suffering financial hardship. Payments are not designed to enable applicants to remain in accommodation that they are unable to afford on the normal levels of housing benefit.
During the period of the award you should consider seeking cheaper alternative accommodation, or review your income and expenditure to enable you to afford your current accommodation without long term assistance from the fund.
If you make a further request for a payment from the fund at the end of the current award period the Benefit Service will consider what steps you have taken to help yourself financially or in seeking alternative accommodation during the period of the award.  If you have not sought to reduce your outgoings or looked into moving to cheaper accommodation this will affect the outcome of a further payment request.
Payments from the fund are cash limited, this means that once the fund is exhausted no further payments can be made.  Because of this you should not become reliant on payments as a long term solution to your housing and/or financial difficulties."

WOW's own Wayne Blackburn talked on the BBC about the reality of the Bedroom Tax & DHP too, that it really means either going hungry or moving from a house they have adapted for disabilities to an unsuitable and uncertain place. It will mean huge stress and physical pain, risk of homelessness and severe negative impacts upon health.

Wayne Blackburn and his wife live in a small, social housing bungalow in Nelson, Lancashire. Mr Blackburn suffers from conditions which severely limit his mobility and leave him in constant pain. Although their house is classified as a two bedroom property, the second bedroom is principally used to store mobility aids. The Blackburns stand to lose about £12 per week as a result of the benefit changes and Wayne says he fears whether they will be able to make ends meet.