BCP Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Payment

What the Hardship Payment Is

The Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP) is a discretionary top-up administered by BCP Council under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. It is designed for residents who are already receiving Council Tax Reduction but still cannot afford their remaining council tax.

This is not an automatic entitlement. BCP Council has a cash-limited budget for hardship payments, and every application is assessed individually against the council's Discretionary Council Tax Discount Policy.

Who Can Apply

You need to meet these conditions before the council will consider your application:

1. You are already receiving Council Tax Reduction (or have applied and been assessed). The hardship payment is a top-up, not a standalone benefit — you must have exhausted the standard scheme first.
2. You are in severe financial hardship. The council looks at whether paying the remaining council tax would leave your household unable to meet essential living costs.
3. You have maximised your income. BCP Council expects you to have claimed every benefit and discount you are entitled to. If you could be getting PIP, Attendance Allowance, or Pension Credit but have not applied, the council may refuse hardship support until you do.

What You Need to Show

The application requires full disclosure of your household finances. Prepare:

• A detailed income and expenditure breakdown covering everything: rent/mortgage, utilities, food, transport, debt repayments, childcare
• Evidence that you have claimed all available benefits (UC, PIP, Carer's Allowance, Single Person Discount)
• Bank statements showing your actual spending patterns
• Any correspondence about debts or arrears

The council also expects engagement with financial management services. If you have debts, they want to see that you have contacted a free debt advice service (StepChange, National Debtline, or Citizens Advice) and are following a repayment plan or have been advised that your debts are not manageable.

How the Decision Is Made

BCP Council assesses each application on its merits. There is no formula — the assessment officer weighs your household's total financial position and decides whether paying the remaining council tax would cause exceptional hardship.

If granted, the council's decision will say how long the award covers and whether you need to reapply.

Section 13A gives the council discretion to reduce your liability by any amount, including to zero. BCP Council decides the amount based on your circumstances.

BCP Council Also Runs a Crisis Fund

Separately from the EHP, BCP Council partners with Citizens Advice BCP to administer the Crisis Resilience Fund. This provides short-term emergency grant assistance for households in immediate financial crisis — covering essentials like food, energy, and clothing rather than council tax specifically. If your hardship extends beyond council tax, ask Citizens Advice BCP (0808 278 7939) about this fund alongside your EHP application.

Apply Before Enforcement Starts

If you are behind on council tax and heading towards a court summons or liability order, apply for the hardship payment now rather than waiting. Applying does not suspend your council tax bill or your obligation to keep up with instalments.

The BCP Council Tax Reduction guide includes a hardship audit sheet to help you map your income against expenditure in the format the council expects. If you are already facing enforcement action, contact StepChange (0800 138 1111) or National Debtline (0800 240 4420) immediately — they provide free, confidential debt advice and can help negotiate with the council on your behalf.

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