County Durham Council Tax Hardship Fund: Section 13A Relief Explained

What Section 13A Hardship Relief Is

Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 gives Durham County Council the power to reduce or eliminate any council tax payer's bill on the grounds of exceptional financial hardship. This is separate from the standard Council Tax Reduction scheme — you can apply for hardship relief whether or not you already receive CTR.

It's designed as short-term emergency help, not an ongoing discount. The council funds it from its own budget, so awards are discretionary. There's no automatic entitlement, and each case is assessed individually.

Who Should Apply

Hardship relief is particularly relevant for two groups in County Durham:

Working-age CTR recipients struggling with the 10% minimum. Since April 2026, the maximum CTR discount is 90%, meaning every working-age household pays at least 10% of the bill. For some households — especially those on Universal Credit with no earned income — even that 10% causes genuine hardship. Section 13A can cover the gap.

Households hit by a sudden financial crisis. Job loss, relationship breakdown, serious illness, or an unexpected expense that makes council tax temporarily unaffordable. The council looks at your overall financial picture, not just your income band.

How to Apply

Durham County Council has a specific application process for Section 13A relief:

1. Apply online — use the council's online discretionary s13A application form
2. Complete the income and expenditure schedule — the form asks for a detailed breakdown of all household income and all outgoings
3. Gather six months of bank statements — provide full statements covering the most recent six consecutive months, plus details of other assets
4. Submit the requested documents — the council may ask for further evidence

The council gives you 14 days from its written request to submit any outstanding evidence.

What the Council Looks For

The council evaluates whether you face "exceptional hardship" — not just tight finances. Key factors in their decision:

• Whether you've already applied for and received standard CTR
• Whether you've claimed all other discounts and exemptions you're entitled to (Single Person Discount, Disabled Band Reduction, etc.)
• Whether your income and expenditure schedule and bank statements support the hardship application
• Whether your hardship is temporary; Section 13A relief is designed as short-term assistance
• Whether you have assets or savings that could cover the shortfall

Computer printouts, unverified downloads, and mobile app screenshots have been flagged as insufficient in previous applications — the council wants official bank statements.

The Decision Timeline

The council issues decisions within 21 days. If awarded, the reduction is credited directly to your Council Tax account. The award is typically short-term, providing assistance while longer-term budgeting or income maximisation is established.

If the council refuses your application, request a written explanation and ask the council which challenge route applies to the Section 13A decision.

Don't Wait Until You're in Arrears

The hardship fund exists to prevent debt, not just respond to it. If you can already see that the 10% minimum payment is going to be a problem, apply early. A proactive application — before reminder notices start arriving — is stronger than a reactive one made under enforcement pressure.

If you're already behind on payments, contact the council's recovery team (03000 26 0000) to explain you're applying for hardship relief. Continue paying your existing Council Tax instalments while the application is pending; applying does not itself pause payment.

For anyone with existing arrears or enforcement action, free debt advice from StepChange (0800 138 1111) or National Debtline (0808 808 4000) should be your first call.

The County Durham Council Tax Reduction guide covers the Section 13A application process step by step, including how to structure your income and expenditure schedule to present the strongest case.

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