Kirklees Council Tax Hardship Fund and Section 13A Discretionary Relief

When Standard CTR Isn't Enough

Council Tax Reduction in Kirklees covers up to 75% of your bill if you're working age. But that still leaves a mandatory 25% minimum payment — and for households in severe financial distress, even that amount can be impossible to pay.

That's where Section 13A(1)(c) discretionary relief and local emergency support come in. They're separate from the main CTR scheme and work as a safety net for people who've exhausted other options.

Section 13A(1)(c) Discretionary Reduction

Under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, Kirklees Council has the power to reduce anyone's council tax liability further — even to zero — in cases of exceptional hardship.

This is entirely discretionary. There's no automatic entitlement and no formula. The council decides each case on its merits.

To apply, submit a written request to the council. It should explain:

• A detailed explanation of your exceptional circumstances
• Full income and expenditure breakdown showing you genuinely cannot meet the remaining charge
• Evidence of any debts, health conditions, or other factors contributing to your hardship
• If relevant, details of other reductions or support you receive or have applied for

Section 13A relief is rarely granted for general debt — it's designed for genuinely exceptional situations where paying the council tax would cause severe hardship beyond what the standard scheme already addresses.

Local Welfare Provision (LWP)

Kirklees runs a Local Welfare Provision scheme that provides short-term emergency help:

• Crisis food parcels
• Pre-paid energy vouchers for gas and electricity
• Emergency support for immediate needs

LWP doesn't pay your council tax bill. It helps with day-to-day survival costs when you're in crisis.

Contact the LWP team on 01484 414782 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, excluding bank holidays) or email [email protected].

What LWP Is Not

People commonly confuse three different types of help:

1. Council Tax Reduction — the main means-tested scheme that reduces your bill by up to 75%
2. Section 13A hardship relief — a discretionary write-off of some or all of the remaining charge
3. Local Welfare Provision — emergency food and fuel grants, not council tax relief

LWP and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) cannot legally be used to pay council tax. DHP covers rental shortfalls only. If someone tells you to apply for DHP to cover your council tax, they're wrong.

If You're Already in Arrears

If you've fallen behind and received a final notice or court summons, the priority is to stabilise the debt before worrying about discretionary relief. Contact:

• StepChange on 0800 138 1111 — free debt advice and management plans
• National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 — independent debt advice
• Citizens Advice Kirklees & Law Centre — use the online contact form at kcalc.org.uk/contact-us for benefits and debt advice; its former advice-line number is no longer answered

These services can help you negotiate a payment plan with the council and may be able to arrange Breathing Space — a 60-day legal freeze on enforcement action.

Taking Action

If you're already on Council Tax Reduction but can't manage the 25% minimum, explore Section 13A relief through a written application to the council. Our Kirklees Council Tax Reduction guide includes a structured hardship request template and a step-by-step process for building your case, alongside the evidence checklist the council expects to see.

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