Pleasant Surprise - Council Tax Hardship Fund - Reduced Council Tax

[Deleted User]

Today I received a reduced Council tax Bill.  Initially no idea why, then I saw £150 taken off with the label Covid 19 Hardship Fund Payment.  

I found https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874867/COVID-19_Council_Tax_Hardship_Fund_Guidance.pdf

Local councils are supposed to explain this, and I did find a webpage for my local council saying that they were using the £500m Hardship Fund set out in the budget to reduce all 'vulnerable people's' council tax bill by £150 as instructed by the government.  Vulnerable people is defined as people in receipt of Local Council Tax support.  Apparently the amount is supposed to be applied asap but this is the first I knew of it.

I thought I'd post it on here, in case other people are taken by surprise (pleasant one) as I was.  Did hear about the £500m Hardship fund but didn't realise I'd actually personally receive any benefit from it.  Thought it would just disappear into Local Authorities spending budgets.

If you google <local Authority name> and 'council tax hardship fund' you should be able to receive confirmation of what's happening in your area.  As far as I can make out, LA's have to make a payment of a minimum of £150 to all vulnerable resident's council tax account asap.

princeofpounds

Happy for you. Consider it a gift from us non-vulnerables ;-)

[Deleted User]

<sigh> just knew I was going to get that kind of response but wanted to post it anyway so that people who can get the additional help know about it. 

I am not denying everyone is struggling but there are people who have additional difficulties.There's really no need for the sour grapes response.  Its not a gift.Not at all.

If you feel there is injustice, I can't help that, but I can let people know what is as I was quite mystified at first and thought some mistake had been made.

carefullycautious

I actually like to hear where the money goes so thank you for lnforming everyone of this. 

princeofpounds

deannatrois said:

<sigh> just knew I was going to get that kind of response but wanted to post it anyway so that people who can get the additional help know about it. 

It wasn't actually meant as a sour grapes response. I am happy for you. You may notice that I thanked your initial post.

It IS a gift from those that pay to those that receive. But not all gifts are begrudged.

RelievedSheff

FtbDreaming said:

Just looked on my council website and as you say it’s just for people already eligible for council tax reduction so doesn’t help me at all. 

Is it just me who thinks that by keeping it to the people that don’t pay anyway the councils are keeping the whole grant for themselves  rather than passing the savings onto people that have to physically pay their bill. 

 person on benefits
council cover £1000 ct bill now add £150 discount and council only pay £850

working person
£1000 bill still has to be paid despite reduced income and same outgoings as pre covid

this isn’t a dig at the op. Its the councils

If only council tax were £1k!!

silvercar

I'm moving this to the coronovirus board as it is more to do with a new benefit arising out of the pandemic than a housing issue.
Please remember that the MSE forum exists for advice and not to complain about the benefit system.

antonic

deannatrois said:

Today I received a reduced Council tax Bill.  Initially no idea why, then I saw £150 taken off with the label Covid 19 Hardship Fund Payment.  

I found https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874867/COVID-19_Council_Tax_Hardship_Fund_Guidance.pdf

Local councils are supposed to explain this, and I did find a webpage for my local council saying that they were using the £500m Hardship Fund set out in the budget to reduce all 'vulnerable people's' council tax bill by £150 as instructed by the government.  Vulnerable people is defined as people in receipt of Local Council Tax support.  Apparently the amount is supposed to be applied asap but this is the first I knew of it.

I thought I'd post it on here, in case other people are taken by surprise (pleasant one) as I was.  Did hear about the £500m Hardship fund but didn't realise I'd actually personally receive any benefit from it.  Thought it would just disappear into Local Authorities spending budgets.

If you google <local Authority name> and 'council tax hardship fund' you should be able to receive confirmation of what's happening in your area.  As far as I can make out, LA's have to make a payment of a minimum of £150 to all vulnerable resident's council tax account asap.

I am so pleased for you (from someone who is still working full time from home) and I think that this is an excellent use of money.

Galloglass

<sigh> just knew I was going to get that kind of response but wanted to post it anyway so that people who can get the additional help know about it. 

Quite. 
It's not new as it has been around since 1992. Different councils call it different thing and target it in different way. These reworkings/relabelling of a standard practice is normal for politicians. It will also be around post-COVID unless they decide we are all rich enough not to need it. Some politicians may not.

https://www.moneyadvicehub.org.uk/debtipedia/advice-and-information-debtipedia/welfare-benefits/section-13a-council-tax-relief

strawb_shortcake

I'm glad it's gone this way and not followed some of the ludicrous demands for council tax to be suspended for everyone. 

Under_the_Radar_2

FtbDreaming said:

Just looked on my council website and as you say it’s just for people already eligible for council tax reduction so doesn’t help me at all. 

Is it just me who thinks that by keeping it to the people that don’t pay anyway the councils are keeping the whole grant for themselves  rather than passing the savings onto people that have to physically pay their bill. 

 person on benefits
council cover £1000 ct bill now add £150 discount and council only pay £850

working person
£1000 bill still has to be paid despite reduced income and same outgoings as pre covid

this isn’t a dig at the op. Its the councils

Not necessarily, if your income is reduced enough that you can claim for Universal Credit, you are eligible for a discounted Council Tax bill. Even if you only get £1 on UC, this may still apply, so worth looking at if your income has been negatively impacted by the crisis. Of course it may be a bit late to start the process now, but who knows how long this will go on for. 

Replying to this quote, but really advising anyone that feels they are on less income but not getting help.