Bromley Crisis and Resilience Fund: Emergency Council Tax Help

What Replaced the Household Support Fund in Bromley

The government-funded Household Support Fund (HSF) closed on 31 March 2026. If you're searching for it, you won't find an open application — the scheme has ended nationally.

In its place, the government introduced the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which provides short-term emergency assistance for people facing an unexpected crisis. Bromley Council administers CRF locally, and it covers situations like a sudden loss of income, a domestic emergency, or an immediate risk of destitution.

The CRF is not a council tax relief scheme. It's a broader emergency fund that can help with essentials — food, energy, other immediate costs. If council tax is your specific problem, the routes below are more directly useful.

The Section 13A Hardship Fund for Council Tax

Bromley operates a dedicated council tax hardship fund under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, with £260,000 allocated for 2026/27. This is the main route for emergency help with your actual council tax bill.

To qualify, you must meet three conditions:

1. You have a recent CTS decision. You must have applied for Council Tax Support and received a formal decision within the past 3 months. If you haven't applied for CTS yet, do that first — the hardship fund cannot be your first step.
2. You've claimed all other eligible discounts. Single Person Discount, Severe Mental Impairment exemption, Disabled Band Reduction — anything that applies to your situation must already be on your account.
3. You can show extreme financial hardship. The council looks at your essential income versus outgoings and whether you've taken reasonable steps to increase income or reduce spending.

Apply using the Council Tax Discretionary Reduction Form on Bromley Council's website. Decisions are made case-by-case by senior officers, and awards are credited directly to your council tax account for a defined period.

If your application is refused, you can request an internal review in writing within one calendar month.

Council Tax Support: The Foundation

Before applying to the hardship fund, make sure you're claiming Council Tax Support itself. Bromley's working-age scheme can reduce your bill by up to 50%, and many people in a crisis haven't claimed it — particularly those who recently moved onto Universal Credit, since UC does not automatically register a council tax claim.

Even with the 50% cap, CTS can take hundreds of pounds off your annual bill. A single person in a Band C property on UC with no earned income would see their bill drop from £1,426.69 (after Single Person Discount) to roughly £713 per year.

If you need help navigating the CTS application, our Bromley Council Tax Reduction guide covers the eligibility rules, evidence requirements, and the application process step by step.

Free Help for Immediate Crises

If you're in a financial emergency — behind on bills, at risk of losing your home, or facing enforcement — these free services can help:

• Bromley Well — local welfare advice and support, including benefit checks and help with applications. Call free on 0808 278 7898.
• Citizens Advice Bromley — free advice on benefits, debt, and housing. National helpline: 0800 144 8848.
• StepChange — free debt advice and repayment plans. Call 0800 138 1111.
• Debt Free London — free debt advice for London residents at debtfree.london.

If enforcement agents (bailiffs) are involved or a liability order has been granted, contact StepChange or National Debtline (0808 808 4000) before anything else. A process guide cannot stop active enforcement — accredited debt charities can.

Putting It All Together

The most effective approach combines all available support: claim CTS to reduce the base bill, stack any applicable discounts (single person, disability, carer), and then apply to the Section 13A hardship fund if there's still a shortfall you genuinely cannot cover. The full guide explains how these layers work together and includes the evidence checklist for each.

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