Exceptional Hardship Policy

5.1      The Authority will carry out an income and expenses assessment to consider whether the claimant can afford their Council Tax, alongside this assessment the authority will take into account other aspects of the claimant’s circumstances. 

5.2      When making a decision on whether to make an award the Authority will take into account: 

1. all income and capital (including income that has been disregarded as part of the main CTR scheme) that is available to the claimant to meet their Council Tax liability and other household expenses:
2. reasonable expenses of the claimant, including any debts outstanding; reasonably incurred for the applicant and their partner; reasonable expenses are those that are considered appropriate for the customers living circumstances. Where expenses are considered too high for the claimant’s circumstances, lower expenses would be taken into account;
3. the shortfall between Council Tax Reduction and Council Tax liability;
4. the personal circumstances, age and medical circumstances (including ill health and disabilities) of the applicant, their partner, any dependants and any other occupants of the applicant’s home;
5. the difficulty experienced by the applicant, which prohibits them from being able to meet their Council Tax liability, and the length of time this difficultly is likely to exist;
6. if any other form of support (such as a Crisis and Resilience Fund) has already been awarded to meet other shortfalls in household bills. If it has not been claimed, then the officer dealing with the Exceptional Hardship application may consider a referral to this or other financial support, to help the claimant manage their financial difficulty if it is felt that that would be more suitable or in addition to the exceptional hardship award. 

5.3     The above is not exhaustive and other relevant factors may be considered. 

5.4      An award from the Exceptional Hardship Fund does not guarantee that a further award will be made, even if the applicant’s circumstances have not changed. 

5.5      An award from the Exceptional Hardship Fund may be less than the difference between the Council Tax liability and the amount of Council Tax Reduction awarded. 

5.6      The level of payment may be nil if the Authority feels that, in its opinion, the applicant is not suffering ‘exceptional hardship’ or where the applicant has failed to comply with the Exceptional Hardship Fund process.

5.7      Any award from the Exceptional Hardship Fund will be made direct to the applicant’s Council Tax account, thereby reducing the amount of Council Tax payable.

5.8    Claimants must accept and engage with assistance from other council departments, or approved partners that the Authority works with such as the Citizens Advice or similar organisations that the Authority feels would help the claimant and alleviate their exceptional circumstances.  Exceptional hardship awards are made on the condition that any recommended support is taken up and referrals made to other support is engaged with. Any failure to do so without good reason may result in the award being withdrawn.

5.9      Claimants must be prepared to make changes to their finances to make improvements to their situation, this may include stopping any non-essential expenditure or maximise their income through the application for other welfare benefits as appropriate; the Authority may require confirmation after any award that appropriate steps have been taken.