South Gloucestershire Council Tax Hardship Fund and Section 13A Relief

When Council Tax Reduction Isn't Enough

South Gloucestershire's working-age Council Tax Reduction caps out at 77%. Even at maximum reduction, you're left paying 23% of your bill — roughly £575 a year on a Band D property in an average parish. For households surviving on basic benefits with zero earned income, that 23% can be impossible to manage alongside rent, food, and energy.

Two discretionary schemes exist specifically for these situations.

Section 13A(1)(c) Exceptional Hardship Relief

Under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, South Gloucestershire Council has the power to reduce or completely write off your council tax liability in cases of exceptional financial hardship.

This isn't an automatic entitlement. It's a discretionary fund with limited resources, assessed case by case. To qualify, you need to demonstrate:

1. Severe financial hardship — backed by a detailed income and expenditure breakdown showing you genuinely cannot pay
2. All other options exhausted — you've already claimed Council Tax Reduction, Single Person Discount, Disabled Band Reduction, and any other statutory discounts you're entitled to
3. Not wilful refusal — the arrears aren't the result of deliberately choosing not to pay
4. Exceptional circumstances — severe illness, sudden disability, extreme crisis, or other situations beyond your control

Applications must be in writing. Include three months of bank statements and a full breakdown of your household income versus essential expenditure. Contact the Financial Support Line on freephone 0800 953 7778 to confirm where to submit a Section 13A request.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund

Separate from Section 13A, South Gloucestershire operates the Crisis and Resilience Fund — a local welfare assistance scheme for residents in acute financial distress. For 2026/27, the fund was allocated £2,412,469.

This fund doesn't directly pay council tax. It provides emergency support for food, energy, and essential household goods. But by covering these immediate costs, it can free up enough in your budget to manage the council tax minimum payment.

Contact the Financial Support Line on freephone 0800 953 7778 or visit a One Stop Shop by appointment.

Important: These Are Not the Same as DHPs

A common mistake is applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to cover council tax. DHPs are legally restricted to rent shortfalls for tenants receiving Housing Benefit or the UC housing element. They cannot fund council tax liabilities at all.

If you need help with rent, apply for a DHP. If you need help with council tax, apply for Section 13A(1)(c) hardship relief. The council processes both, but they're governed by different legislation.

What to Do If You're Already in Arrears

If unpaid council tax has reached the arrears stage — reminder letters, final notices, summons, liability orders, or bailiff action — a hardship application alone isn't enough. You need free debt advice urgently:

• StepChange Debt Charity: 0800 138 1111
• National Debtline: 0808 808 4000
• Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire: 0808 278 7947

These services can negotiate with the council on your behalf and explore all available options, including formal debt relief orders.

For a hardship application preparation guide and the full Section 13A evidence checklist, the South Gloucestershire Council Tax Reduction Guide covers the entire discretionary relief process alongside the main CTR claim.

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