For an applicant to be eligible to receive a DCTR payment towards their Council Tax liability certain criteria must be met as follows (list is not exhaustive):

• the applicant must be liable to pay Council Tax at the property in which they live
• empty properties are not eligible
• the applicant has an outstanding amount of Council Tax to pay (a balance due)
• Council Tax Support (CTS) must be in payment for an application to be considered for an award (unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated)
• the applicant will make payments towards the Council Tax bill and agree to make a repayment arrangement over an agreed period of time to pay the outstanding balance
• the Council is satisfied that the applicant is suffering from exceptional financial hardship and the applicant has taken reasonable steps to reduce unnecessary or excessive expenditure
• the applicant has taken steps to maximise their income through the application for all eligible welfare benefits
• where the applicant has requested relief and it includes any prior year debts (arrears) the Council will consider granting relief if exceptional hardship can be demonstrated and attempts have been made to make payment
• the applicant currently has deductions being made in respect of CTS awards for non-dependant adults in the household increasing the Council Tax bill due are not covered by the scheme
• the applicant has exhausted all other options with regard to improving his or her current financial circumstances and has taken active steps towards financial security
• the authority has sufficient funds available and making an award would not unreasonably impact on its ability to make awards to other applicants
• the applicant is in receipt of all relevant Council Tax discounts such as single person discount
• the applicant has been affected by Universal Credit migration
• the applicant has been affected by the removal of the Two-Child limit in Universal Credit 

In exceptional cases the Council may make decisions which fall outside of this eligibility criteria and retains the discretion to make an award outside the provisions of this policy.

Before you start an application for Discretionary Council Tax Relief (DCTR), you should gather the evidence that is required, dependent on what you are applying for, so you are ready to upload it whilst completing your online application.

Evidence required for all cases:

• reasons for applying and what you are applying for
• two months bank statements for all accounts that you (and any resident partner) hold, showing all transactions, covering the last two months (mini statements and phone screenshots are not acceptable). This includes any savings accounts for you (and your partner) and any you hold for your children

Before you submit the application make sure you complete the form in full and upload all evidence needed (as indicated on the evidence checklist in the application form) to support your claim and avoid delay. If you fail to provide evidence needed in support of your application, your claim will be refused with no appeal rights.

The online application can also be treated as a claim for Council Tax Support and Free School Meals where there is eligibility and entitlement unless you do not wish to receive these additional benefits. 

The Council currently administers and operates the following discretionary financial support schemes, of which there is one online application form for all schemes:

• Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Crisis Payments and Move in Packs
• Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payment
• Discretionary Council Tax Relief Scheme (DCTR).

All applications will be treated individually on their own merit under all relevant schemes. We will only consider your application against each CRF scheme that you apply for, however we may consider any applications made to look to assist with Discretionary Council Tax Relief even if not applied for.

Your application for discretionary financial support can be treated as a claim for Council Tax Support or Free School Meals if there is.

Apply for Discretionary Council Tax Relief 

Help with the application

Our outreach visiting service can support making an application only if the following circumstances apply:

• the applicant is disabled and
• is unable to leave the home as a result of that disability and
• is unable to complete the claim as a result of that disability and
• no family member, friend or other suitable person is available to assist the applicant
• has any other legitimate barrier to the completion of an application requiring support 

If all of the above apply, then please email visitingandwelfareemails@lbbd.gov.uk with your contact details and details of which scheme that you wish to apply for and the reasons for applying.

You must give authority to act to anyone applying for discretionary financial support on your behalf.

We will work to support the residents across a broad range of services. 

This will include referrals of applicants to services such as:

• B&D Works for employment support
• Budgeting and Debt advice
• Adult Learning
• voluntary sector organisations
• any other relevant service as applicable for further advice and ongoing support

Level of payment

We usually only make one award every 12 months, and this could be either a one-off payment or an ongoing award as deemed appropriate. The award can be issued by phone text payment (ATM withdrawal link), direct payment to council tax/rent accounts or landlords and in exceptional circumstances only a BACS payment into your nominated bank account.

The level of payment will be decided by the Council. 

Right to appeal

The schemes are discretionary, and the applicant does not have a statutory right to payment or appeal. However, if requested, we will review the decision unless:

• your application was submitted without the required evidence, 

or

• you have had a previous award within 12 months and do not declare it, or you have no extenuating circumstances

If your circumstances change, you can reapply. 

• there is no limit on how many times you can claim DCTR. However, if you reapply without a change to your circumstances or without extenuating circumstances, then your application may be refused

The personal information we collect from you will be shared with fraud prevention agencies, who will use it to prevent fraud and money laundering and to verify your identity. 

If fraud is detected, you could be refused certain services, finance, or employment. 

Further details of how your information will be used by us and these fraud prevention agencies, and your data protection rights, can be found on the Cifas website.