Bromley Council Tax Hardship Fund: How to Apply Under Section 13A

What Is the Section 13A Hardship Fund?

Bromley's Council Tax Support scheme caps working-age support at 50%, which means even residents on the lowest incomes face a substantial bill. The Section 13A(1)(c) Discretionary Hardship Fund provides discretionary help to residents with a recent CTS decision who still face hardship meeting their council tax liability.

For 2026/27, Bromley allocated £260,000 to this fund. Awards are made case by case by senior officers and credited directly to your council tax account for a defined period — it isn't a cash payment and it isn't permanent support.

The Mandatory Prerequisites

Before you can even apply, you must meet two conditions:

1. You must have applied for Council Tax Support and received an official CTS determination. This isn't optional — the hardship fund is designed for people who've already been through the main scheme and still face a shortfall.

2. Your CTS decision must be within the past 3 months. If it is older than three months, ask Bromley what steps are needed before applying for hardship relief.

These prerequisites catch many people out. Residents who've never applied for CTS — assuming UC covers their council tax — can't go straight to the hardship fund. The CTS application comes first.

What the Council Looks For

Section 13A assessments evaluate whether your financial circumstances represent genuine exceptional hardship, not just a tight budget. The council considers:

• Your essential income versus outgoings (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, transport)
• Whether you've claimed all eligible discounts and benefits (Single Person Discount, PIP, Disabled Band Reduction)
• Evidence that you've taken reasonable steps to increase income or reduce expenditure
• The nature of the crisis — sudden illness, bereavement, job loss, or other acute circumstances

The fund isn't designed as a top-up for everyone who finds 50% difficult to pay. It's targeted at residents in genuine crisis where paying the remaining council tax would mean not covering essential needs.

How to Apply

Applications go through the Council Tax Discretionary Reduction Form on the Bromley website. You can also submit by post to the Revenues and Benefits Department at the Civic Centre, Churchill Court, 2 Westmoreland Road, Bromley, BR1 1AS.

You'll need to provide:

• Your council tax account reference number
• A copy of your CTS decision notice (showing the date)
• A detailed breakdown of your monthly income and essential outgoings
• Evidence of the hardship — bank statements showing the shortfall, medical evidence, redundancy notice, or whatever documents support your case
• Proof that you've applied for all other eligible discounts

If Your Application Is Refused

Discretionary reductions under Section 13A are exactly that — discretionary. The council has no obligation to grant an award even if you meet all the criteria. But if you're refused, you have the right to request an internal review.

Submit your review request in writing within one calendar month of the refusal notice. A senior officer who wasn't involved in the original decision will reconsider your case. If you're still refused after the internal review, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England, which is free.

Other Options if You're Struggling

If the hardship fund can't help — or while you're waiting for a decision — consider:

• 12-month instalment plan: You have a statutory right to spread council tax across 12 months (April to March) instead of 10. Ask the council in writing.
• Emergency crisis support: The government-funded Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaced the Household Support Fund in April 2026 for short-term emergency assistance.
• Free debt advice: If you're facing arrears or enforcement action, contact StepChange (0800 138 1111) or Debt Free London before trying to negotiate with the council directly.

The Bromley Council Tax Reduction Guide includes a hardship application planner with a budget worksheet, a timeline of the review process, and letter templates for requesting internal review.

See more England guides →