Council Tax Hardship Fund in Cheshire West and Chester

What the Hardship Fund Is

Cheshire West and Chester runs an Exceptional Hardship Payment scheme under section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. It provides short-term financial help to residents who are already receiving Council Tax Reduction but still cannot manage their remaining bill.

The fund is discretionary and cash-limited. The council decides how much to award based on available budget, and there is no statutory right of appeal if your application is refused.

Who Can Apply

You must already be receiving a Council Tax Reduction award. The hardship fund is designed for the gap — the difference between what CTR covers and what you actually owe. If you are not receiving CTR at all (perhaps because your savings exceed £6,000 or you have not yet applied), you need to sort out the main CTR claim first.

Typical scenarios where the fund applies:

• Your CTR is capped at 75% and the remaining 25% is more than your household can manage
• You lost entitlement due to the April 2025 reforms (the Band D cap or the reduced capital limit) and the transitional support scheme does not fully bridge the gap
• An unexpected crisis — job loss, bereavement, sudden illness — has tipped your household budget past breaking point

What the Council Looks At

Unlike the standard CTR assessment, the hardship evaluation looks at everything — including income and benefits that are normally disregarded. The panel reviews:

• All household income, including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Child Benefit
• All expenditure, including rent, utilities, food, essential travel, and debt repayments
• Whether you have explored all other available support (CTR, Single Person Discount, benefits you may not yet be claiming)

The assessment is holistic. The council is looking for genuine, severe financial hardship — not a tight month.

How to Apply

Applications go through a separate online form on the council's website, distinct from the main CTR portal. You will need to provide a detailed income and expenditure breakdown. Gather your recent bank statements, utility bills, and rent or mortgage statements before you start.

Awards provide short-term support. Ask the council how long an award lasts and whether you need to reapply if your circumstances continue.

The Transitional Support Scheme

Alongside the hardship fund, the council runs a minimum two-year transitional support scheme covering 2025/26 and 2026/27. It specifically targets long-term CTR claimants who lost entitlement because of the April 2025 reforms — particularly protected groups affected by the new Band D cap and the lowered £6,000 capital limit. If you were previously receiving a higher level of support and your award dropped significantly, ask the council whether you qualify and how to apply for transitional mitigation.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of both the standard hardship application and the transitional scheme, including an income-and-expenditure preparation template, see the Cheshire West Council Tax Reduction guide.

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