North Northamptonshire Council Tax Hardship Fund: Section 13A Discretionary Relief

What Section 13A Hardship Relief Is

When the standard Council Tax Reduction scheme doesn't cover enough — because the 75% cap still leaves you with a bill you can't pay — Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 gives North Northamptonshire Council discretionary power to reduce your council tax further.

This is the safety net beneath the safety net. It's not automatic, it's not easy to get, and NNC is transparent about how strict it is: during 2024/25, they received 305 applications and approved just 8 — roughly a 3% approval rate, totalling £10,643 in relief.

That doesn't mean it's pointless. It means you need to understand exactly what NNC expects before applying.

Who Can Apply

You must have already claimed everything else first. Section 13A is a last resort, not a shortcut. NNC requires that you've applied for:

• Standard Council Tax Reduction
• Single Person Discount (if applicable)
• Any relevant disability reductions
• All other statutory reliefs you might qualify for

Only after all those are in place — and you still can't manage the remaining bill — does Section 13A come into play.

What You Need to Demonstrate

NNC requires evidence of severe, exceptional, and unmanageable financial hardship. The bar is deliberately high. You'll need to show:

A complete household income and expenditure statement — every source of income against every essential outgoing. Rent, utilities, food, transport, debt repayments, childcare. NNC wants to see that after meeting basic needs, you genuinely cannot cover the council tax shortfall.

Engagement with budget support — NNC explicitly requires applicants with multiple debts to have engaged with the council's Money Advice or Budget Support teams, or an independent advice agency like Citizens Advice, before the hardship decision is made. This isn't optional; it's a prerequisite.

Evidence that the hardship is exceptional — meaning it goes beyond the ordinary financial pressure of being on a low income. A sudden, unexpected crisis (serious illness, job loss, domestic abuse, bereavement) carries more weight than long-term tight budgeting.

What Section 13A Is Not

It's not a route for everyone on a low income who finds the 25% minimum payment difficult. NNC treats it as an exceptional measure for exceptional circumstances. If your situation is tight but stable, the application will almost certainly be refused.

It's also separate from the Crisis and Resilience Fund — NNC's £4.5 million allocation for emergency food, energy, and essential household costs. The Crisis Fund helps with immediate survival needs; Section 13A specifically reduces your council tax account.

And it's separate from Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs), which help with rent shortfalls only. DHPs can't be used for council tax.

How to Apply

Use the online application linked from NNC's Discretionary Discount page. If you need help with the application, call NNC on 0300 126 3000 or visit a service centre. Include a full income and expenditure statement and supporting evidence.

Structure your application around these points:

1. Your current council tax liability and existing reductions
2. The exceptional circumstance that triggered the hardship
3. A full income and expenditure statement
4. Evidence of having sought budget advice
5. Why the shortfall is unmanageable — not just difficult — given your circumstances

If You're Refused

You can request an internal review of the decision. Section 13A decisions are ultimately discretionary, which means NNC has broad latitude — but they must still follow their published policy fairly. If you believe relevant evidence was ignored or your circumstances were mischaracterised, put that in writing.

Beyond the internal review, you can seek advice from Citizens Advice North Northamptonshire or the Community Law Service on whether a formal complaint or further challenge is appropriate.

The Bigger Picture

The 3% approval rate tells a clear story: Section 13A isn't where most people find relief. It's a genuine last resort for genuine emergencies. For most working-age residents, the practical focus should be on getting your standard CTR calculation right, claiming every statutory discount you're entitled to, and reducing the base liability that the 25% minimum is calculated on.

The North Northamptonshire Council Tax Reduction guide walks through the full Section 13A application process, including an income and expenditure template and tips for structuring a strong hardship case.

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