Bolton Council Tax Hardship Fund — How to Apply for Section 13A Discretionary Relief

What the Hardship Fund Actually Is

Bolton Council runs a discretionary council tax reduction scheme under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. It sits alongside the main Council Tax Reduction scheme as a separate safety net for residents who've exhausted standard support and still can't pay.

This isn't part of the main CTR calculation. It's a distinct application with its own criteria, assessed on a case-by-case basis. The council has no obligation to grant it, and there's no fixed formula — each decision is discretionary, based on the evidence you provide.

Who It's Designed For

The fund targets people facing exceptional financial hardship — not everyday budget tightness, but crisis-level circumstances that leave you genuinely unable to cover the gap between your CTR award and your council tax bill. Common scenarios include:

• Sudden income loss (redundancy, relationship breakdown, business failure) where standard CTR still leaves a shortfall
• The 17.5% minimum payment is unaffordable even after all other benefits are in place
• Medical emergencies or disability-related costs that aren't covered by other support
• Domestic abuse situations where you've fled with nothing

The key word is "exceptional." Bolton's scheme document specifically requires circumstances beyond the ordinary financial pressures that most low-income households face.

What You Need for the Application

The discretionary form is available on Bolton Council's website under discounts and exemptions. You'll need to provide:

A complete household income and expenditure statement. Every pound coming in (wages, benefits, UC, any other income) and every pound going out (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, transport, debts, insurance, childcare). The council uses this to assess whether you have any disposable income that could cover the council tax shortfall.

Evidence that you've explored other options. Have you claimed everything you're entitled to? Are you getting the single person discount if applicable? Have you applied for the main CTR scheme? Checked whether you qualify for a disabled band reduction? The council wants to see that Section 13A is genuinely the last resort, not the first port of call.

Documentation of exceptional circumstances. Medical letters, redundancy notices, evidence of domestic abuse referral, court orders — whatever substantiates the crisis that distinguishes your situation from general low income.

How Decisions Are Made

A senior officer within Bolton's Revenues and Benefits Service reviews the application. They're looking at whether your essential expenditure exceeds your income, whether there's any realistic prospect of paying the shortfall, and whether the circumstances are genuinely exceptional.

Awards are typically short-term — they cover a defined period rather than the full financial year. If your circumstances persist, you may need to reapply. The council can also vary the amount: a full write-off of the outstanding balance, a partial reduction, or a refusal.

If Your Application Is Refused

A refusal isn't the end. You can request an internal review within one calendar month of the decision notice. If the review upholds the refusal, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England, which is completely independent of Bolton Council and free to use.

The Bolton Council Tax Reduction guide includes a dedicated hardship application preparation section with a printable income-and-expenditure worksheet and the evidence checklist used by the council's assessment team — so you know exactly what they're looking for before you submit.

See more England guides →