Apply for a Council Tax Hardship payment

Are you struggling to pay your Council Tax? 

You may be able to apply for a Council Tax Hardship payment. If you are experiencing exceptional financial hardship, then you may be able to claim some discretionary assistance with your Council Tax. This is not a cash payment, but a credit to your Council Tax account. Our budget for this is limited so the help available will be for a set period and amount.

Before you apply for an exceptional hardship payment, you must:

• have received or be in receipt of Council Tax Support rebate
• demonstrate you have taken all reasonable steps to resolve the problems that are causing you to apply for the reduction
• apply for any other types of Council Tax Rebate you might be able to get

Exceptional hardship fund payments cannot be awarded:

• for any other reason, other than to reduce Council Tax liability
• where an authorised officer from Braintree Council considers there are unnecessary expenses
• if the means tested assessment shows that there is no financial hardship
• to reduce any Council Tax Reduction recoverable overpayment
• to cover Council Tax arrears prior to the financial year 2021-2022
• to cover a shortfall caused by a Department for Work and Pensions sanction or suspension which has been applied because the Council Taxpayer has turned down work, interview or training opportunities

Please note: As a condition of any award, you may be signposted to our Debt and Money Advice team or third-party partners who can offer support, advice and guidance to help you manage to pay finances on an ongoing basis.

To apply or if you have any further questions please either email counciltax@braintree.gov.uk or call Revenues on 01376 557755 

Please quote your:

• Council Tax account reference full name and address
• Explantion as to why you are applying for this fund