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

What the Hardship Fund Is

Enfield operates a Council Tax Support Hardship (CTSH) fund under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. It is a discretionary scheme — separate from the main Council Tax Reduction — that can provide a temporary credit against Council Tax liability after other reductions and discounts have been applied.

This fund exists specifically because Enfield's working-age award limits can leave some households facing genuine hardship. If you have an active Council Tax Support award and still cannot afford the remaining bill, the hardship fund may be an option.

Who Can Apply

The fund is for households with an active Council Tax Support award in payment for any day they request hardship help, an outstanding liability shortfall, and exceptional financial hardship. You do not need to be in a specific benefit category, but the council looks at whether:

• You have a Council Tax Support award in payment and still have a Council Tax shortfall
• Your household income after essential expenditure (rent, utilities, food, travel to work) leaves insufficient money to cover the remaining Council Tax
• You have explored all other avenues — the Single Person Discount, Disabled Band Reduction, and any other reliefs you might be entitled to
• Your circumstances meet the exceptional financial hardship test

Before the 2024/25 scheme changes, disabled residents and carers had protected group status and could receive up to 100% reduction. That protection was removed. The hardship fund is now the route for these households to get additional help beyond the 50% cap.

How to Apply

Applications go to Enfield's Revenues team via a dedicated hardship form sent to [email protected]. The form and policy require:

• Full income details: every source of money coming into the household
• Essential outgoings: rent or mortgage, utilities, food, travel costs, childcare, debts with payment arrangements
• A statement of circumstances: why you cannot afford the remaining Council Tax and what changed
• Supporting evidence: bank statements, benefit award letters, debt repayment agreements, any correspondence showing financial difficulty
• Engagement with advice: agree to accept independent debt and financial-management advice, as required by the policy

The council is looking for a genuine gap between your essential spending and your income. They want to see that you have prioritised essential bills and are not simply choosing not to pay.

What the Fund Can and Cannot Do

The fund can provide a temporary credit against your remaining Council Tax liability. It does not necessarily zero out your bill — the council may decide that you can afford part of the remaining amount and award relief for only part of the shortfall.

Hardship awards are discretionary. There is no guaranteed outcome, no fixed award amount, and no automatic right to the same award in future years. The decision is made case by case.

The hardship criteria require an active Council Tax Support award in payment and a shortfall for each day relief is requested. If you have arrears or enforcement action, seek free debt advice from StepChange (0800 138 1111), National Debtline (0808 808 4000), or Citizens Advice Enfield as well.

Timeline and What to Expect

There is no published processing time for hardship applications. Submit as early as possible — while the application is being assessed, your Council Tax payment obligations continue, and missed payments can trigger reminder notices and enforcement action.

If the application is refused, ask for the reasons in writing. The policy allows an internal review by a senior officer within 14 days.

The Enfield Council Tax Reduction guide includes a hardship preparation worksheet that walks through every line of the form and a checklist of the evidence that strengthens an application.

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