Redbridge Council Tax Hardship Fund and Exceptional Hardship Payments

What the Hardship Payment Is

Redbridge's Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP) is a discretionary top-up for residents who are already receiving Council Tax Reduction but can't manage the remaining bill. It's funded under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 — the council's emergency powers to grant individual liability reductions.

The key word is discretionary. Unlike Council Tax Reduction, which follows fixed rules, hardship payments are assessed case by case. The council weighs your specific financial circumstances against the available budget. There's no automatic entitlement.

The Main Eligibility Rule

You must already have an active Council Tax Reduction award. This is the gatekeeper that catches most applicants off guard. If you haven't applied for CTR, or your CTR claim was refused, you cannot apply for a hardship payment. The council treats EHP as a last resort after the standard scheme has done what it can.

Applying for hardship payment without an active CTR award is one of the most common rejection reasons — the application gets refused at the first gate.

How to Apply

Submit your application online through the dedicated Redbridge hardship payment form at eforms.redbridge.gov.uk (search for "hardship payment" in the forms directory). You'll need to provide:

• A complete financial statement covering all household income and benefits
• Savings and capital balances — the council assesses whether you have assets that could cover the shortfall
• Itemised living costs — food, utilities, rent (after Housing Benefit/UC housing element), transport, childcare, priority debt repayments, and any disability-related expenses
• A description of the exceptional circumstances — what's happened that makes the residual Council Tax bill unmanageable right now

"I can't afford it" isn't enough on its own. The council looks for specific, time-bound pressures: a sudden drop in income, a bereavement, a benefit sanction, a partner leaving, an unexpected cost that's consumed your available income. The more concrete and evidenced your circumstances, the stronger your case.

What the Payment Looks Like

Hardship payments are short-term credits applied directly to your Council Tax account. They are not cash payments, they don't arrive in your bank, and they don't set a precedent for future years. Each award is a discretionary decision for a defined period; the council does not guarantee repeat awards.

The amount depends on the gap between what CTR covers and what the council considers you can reasonably pay after essential living costs. It might cover the full residual or just part of it.

The Separate Crisis and Resilience Fund

Redbridge also runs a Crisis and Resilience Fund for emergency situations (food vouchers, utility support), but this fund explicitly cannot be used for Council Tax liabilities. If someone directs you to the crisis fund for Council Tax help, they're pointing you in the wrong direction.

If the Residual Is Still Unmanageable

If your hardship application is refused, or the payment doesn't fully bridge the gap, you still have options:

• 12-month payment spreading — request to pay your Council Tax over 12 instalments instead of the standard 10, which reduces each monthly amount
• Free debt advice — contact StepChange (0800 138 1111) or National Debtline (0808 808 4000) before the bill escalates to a summons or liability order

Our Redbridge Council Tax Reduction guide includes an EHP application planner covering exactly what financial information the council asks for and how to present a compelling hardship case.

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