Central Bedfordshire Council Tax Hardship Fund: How to Apply for Section 13A Relief

What the Section 13A Hardship Fund Is

Under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, Central Bedfordshire Council has the power to grant additional council tax reductions to people facing exceptional financial hardship. This is separate from the standard Council Tax Support scheme — it sits on top of it as a safety net for people who still cannot afford their bill after receiving maximum standard support.

Since April 2026, every working-age household in Central Bedfordshire must pay at least 25% of their council tax. For households that previously paid nothing, that is a new expense of £300–£550 per year depending on the property band. The Section 13A fund exists precisely for situations where that minimum payment pushes someone into genuine financial crisis.

The Four Criteria You Must Meet

Central Bedfordshire Council applies strict tests before granting discretionary relief. You must satisfy all four:

1. You have already applied for standard Council Tax Support — the council will not consider hardship relief until it has assessed you under the main scheme first
2. Your circumstances are exceptional and cause financial hardship — for example, illness, redundancy, or relationship breakdown
3. You have exhausted other assets and financial means — the council considers whether you have other resources available to meet the bill
4. The arrears are not the result of wilful refusal or culpable neglect to pay

If you simply chose not to pay council tax when you had the means, the fund is unlikely to help.

How to Apply

Applications are made through the online Discretionary Council Tax Reduction form on the Central Bedfordshire Council website. You will need to provide a comprehensive income and expenditure declaration — the council needs to see your full financial picture, not just your council tax position.

Gather evidence of the exceptional circumstances: a GP letter if illness is the trigger, a redundancy notice, proof of benefit sanctions, or whatever documents support your case. The stronger your evidence that the hardship is genuine and beyond your control, the better your chances.

There is no fixed amount that the fund awards. It is entirely at the council's discretion, funded from a limited budget, and no one is guaranteed an award. But for people who genuinely qualify, it can reduce or eliminate the remaining council tax balance.

Important Distinctions

Do not confuse this with Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). DHPs cover rental shortfalls only — they cannot be used for council tax. If you need help with both rent and council tax, those are two separate applications to two different pots.

Also note that Section 13A relief is discretionary, not a right. The council weighs each case individually. Even if you meet all four criteria, the decision depends on available funding and how your circumstances compare to other applicants.

If your Section 13A application is refused and you believe the decision was wrong, you can challenge it through the same grievance and Valuation Tribunal appeal route used for standard council tax support decisions.

The Central Bedfordshire Council Tax Reduction Guide includes the full hardship criteria, a template for structuring your application, and the escalation process if your request is turned down.

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