Information about bin collections, and opening times, and out of hours services over Christmas and New Year is available in our news section.
- Home
-
- Housing, Council Tax and Benefits
-
- Benefits
-
-
Exceptional Hardship and Discretionary Reduction Payments
Exceptional Hardship and Discretionary Reduction Payments
Chapters in this topic
Introduction
If you have Council Tax arrears, you may be eligible for a reduction in your Council Tax.
You can apply for:
- Exceptional Hardship payments if you’re already receiving Council Tax Support
- A Discretionary Reduction in any other circumstances
We may review your eligibility for Exceptional Hardship and Discretionary Reduction payments, including where your entitlement to Council Tax Support changes.
Payments
Exceptional Hardship and Discretionary Reduction payments are made directly into your Council Tax account.
We may choose to backdate any payments to the start of the current financial year.
If your application is successful, the amount you receive may not cover all your Council Tax arrears. You’ll need to make other arrangements to pay the difference.
When your entitlement will end
Your entitlement to Exceptional Hardship and Discretionary Reduction payments will end on 1 April each year, or if:
- your property becomes empty or unoccupied
- you start bankruptcy proceedings
- your circumstances change
Changes in your circumstances
If you’re receiving Council Tax Support or Exceptional Hardship payments and your circumstances change, you must tell us within 21 days.
Share this page
