Greenwich Council Tax Hardship Fund: How to Apply and Who Qualifies

What the Hardship Fund Is

Since Greenwich cut its working-age Council Tax Reduction from 100% to 80% in April 2025, every working-age household on the scheme pays at least 20% of their bill. For some households, even that 20% is unmanageable.

The Greenwich Supports Council Tax Hardship Fund exists for exactly this situation. Operating under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, it gives the council discretionary power to reduce your council tax liability further — potentially down to zero.

For 2026/27, Greenwich allocated £200,000 to the fund. It is not unlimited, and the council assesses each application individually based on financial hardship.

Who Qualifies

You need to meet these conditions:

• You already have an active LCTS award, or you have applied for one and it is being processed
• You are experiencing severe financial hardship — the 20% minimum payment is genuinely unaffordable
• You can demonstrate your financial position through an income and expenditure assessment

The fund is separate from your standard LCTS application. Having your LCTS claim approved does not automatically put you in line for hardship relief. You need to submit a separate application specifically for the fund.

How to Apply

Applications go through the council's financial assistance portal on royalgreenwich.gov.uk — look for the "Get Housing Payment or Council Tax Hardship Fund" section. You will need to provide:

• A detailed breakdown of your household income and outgoings
• Evidence of your financial position (the same types of documents as an LCTS application — bank statements, benefit letters, payslips)
• An explanation of why you are in severe financial hardship

The application is free. There is no charge for applying, and you do not need to pay a private service provider to apply.

What to Expect

The council reviews your income and expenditure to determine whether your financial hardship is genuine and severe enough to warrant discretionary relief. There is no published formula — each case is decided on its merits.

If approved, the relief is typically short-term and may need renewing. The council credits the award directly to your council tax account, reducing your outstanding balance.

If refused, ask the council for a written explanation and review of the discretionary decision. Check the decision notice for the next step available to challenge it.

Other Emergency Help in Greenwich

If you are struggling with the 20% minimum payment, the hardship fund is not the only route. Greenwich's Crisis and Resilience Fund (£1.1 million annually) covers broader emergency financial support. Live Well Greenwich (freephone 0800 470 4831) can triage you for foodbank vouchers, emergency fuel support, and financial resilience programmes.

If council tax arrears have already built up and you are facing enforcement action, get free debt advice immediately from StepChange (0800 138 1111), National Debtline (0808 808 4000), or Citizens Advice Greenwich (020 8312 7311). These services are independent and free — do not pay a private company to handle council tax debt.

Our Greenwich Council Tax Reduction guide walks through the hardship fund application step by step, including how to structure the income and expenditure assessment to give your application the best chance.

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