Ealing Council Tax Hardship Fund and Section 13A Discretionary Discount

When Standard CTR Isn't Enough

Ealing's Council Tax Reduction scheme has hard limits — a £6,000 capital ceiling, a 20% minimum payment for non-protected households, and zero backdating for working-age claims. Sometimes those limits leave residents facing council tax debt they genuinely cannot pay.

That's where discretionary relief comes in. Ealing operates two separate mechanisms for residents in severe financial difficulty, and neither requires you to be receiving standard CTR.

The Discretionary Council Tax Discount (DCTD)

Under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, Ealing Council has the power to reduce an individual's council tax liability at its discretion. This is the Discretionary Council Tax Discount — a temporary, means-tested award applied directly to your council tax account.

The DCTD is distinct from the main CTR scheme. You can apply for it even if:

• Your savings exceed £6,000 (which disqualifies you from CTR)
• You're already receiving the maximum CTR award but still can't afford the remaining balance
• You missed the application window and lost months of CTR support due to the zero backdating rule
• You don't qualify for CTR at all but face exceptional financial hardship

Applications go through My Account on ealing.gov.uk. The council assesses each application individually based on your financial circumstances, the severity of hardship, and whether other support options have been exhausted.

This is not an entitlement. Awards are at the council's sole discretion, and budgets are limited. But if you have a genuine case for hardship that the standard scheme can't address, it's worth applying.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaced the Household Support Fund in Ealing from April 2026. It's broader than the DCTD — it covers emergency crisis payments, housing support, and holistic financial counselling, not just council tax.

If you're facing multiple financial pressures — not just the council tax bill but also rent arrears, utility debt, or food insecurity — the CRF can provide coordinated support. The fund aims to stabilise your overall financial position, not just reduce one bill.

The CRF and DCTD are separate support routes. Check Ealing's current application instructions to see what evidence each requires.

What DCTD Is Not

The DCTD is not the same as a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). DHPs can only help with rent — they cannot be applied to council tax under any circumstances. Ealing's benefits pages list both, and residents sometimes apply for the wrong one. If your problem is the council tax bill, you need the DCTD, not a DHP.

The DCTD also isn't a route to permanently reducing your council tax. Awards are temporary — typically covering a specific period of acute hardship. If your circumstances remain difficult long-term, the standard CTR scheme (if you're eligible) is the ongoing support route.

How to Apply

1. Log into My Account at ealing.gov.uk
2. Navigate to the benefits and financial support section
3. Complete the discretionary discount application
4. Provide evidence of your financial hardship — income, outgoings, debts, and any circumstances that explain why standard support is insufficient

Include everything relevant. A strong application shows not just that you can't afford the bill, but that you've explored other options (standard CTR, payment plans, budgeting adjustments) and still face a genuine shortfall.

If you need help with the application, Ealing Advice Service (020 8579 8429) and Ealing Law Centre (020 8579 4598) both assist residents with discretionary applications at no charge. For debt that's already at the enforcement stage (summons, liability orders), contact StepChange (0800 138 1111) for free accredited debt advice.

The Ealing Council Tax Reduction guide covers both the standard CTR application and the discretionary hardship routes, with a checklist for building a hardship case.

See more England guides →