Exceptional Hardship Council Tax Reduction Policy
Case reference FOI2024/01555
Received 17 September 2024
Published 2 October 2024
Request
1. Do you have an Exceptional Hardship Council Tax Reduction policy, or a similar named discretionary relief policy that provides for persons who may need additional support on top of Council Tax Support? (yes/no)
2. Does the policy support those who are not supported by the existing council tax reduction scheme? (yes/no)
3. Please provide a link to the policy.
4. Does the policy allow for Council Tax to be written off?
5. When considering using Section 13A to remit the Council Tax charge, do you also consider alternative write off methods that would allow the Council to share bad debt with the other preceptors. If so, please detail them.
6. How much council tax has been written off under Section 13A each financial year from 2017-2024
7. How much council tax has been written off using alternative hardship policies each financial year from 2017-2024
8. If able, please provide a breakdown overview of the primary reasons where the scheme is used for the years 2017-2024? (examples may include victims of domestic violence, referral from money advice service, referral from Housing Support, and ill health.) If no data, any commentary would be appreciated.
Response
1. Do you have an Exceptional Hardship Council Tax Reduction policy, or a similar named discretionary relief policy that provides for persons who may need additional support on top of Council Tax Support? (yes/no)
Answer: Yes
2. Does the policy support those who are not supported by the existing council tax reduction scheme? (yes/no)
Answer: Yes
3. Please provide a link to the policy.
Answer: Council Tax Reduction – Herefordshire Council
4. Does the policy allow for Council Tax to be written off?
Answer: No
5. When considering using Section 13A to remit the Council Tax charge, do you also consider alternative write off methods that would allow the Council to share bad debt with the other preceptors. If so, please detail them.
Answer: No
6. How much council tax has been written off under Section 13A each financial year from 2017-2024
Answer: The Service Area have advised the following:
2017 = £4,213.01
2018 = £0.00
2019 = £114.94
2020 = £278.15
2021 = £2,343.71
2022 = £334.06
2023 = £2,080.59
2024 = £1,461.04 (to date)
7. How much council tax has been written off using alternative hardship policies each financial year from 2017-2024
Answer: N/A
8. If able, please provide a breakdown overview of the primary reasons where the scheme is used for the years 2017-2024? (examples may include victims of domestic violence, referral from money advice service, referral from Housing Support, and ill health.) If no data, any commentary would be appreciated.
Answer: The Service Area have advised we do not record the specific or personal reasons where hardship payments have been made, but the majority of the applications we receive are due to customers advising they are experiencing severe financial difficulties. Each case is reviewed on its own individual circumstances with all the factors in the policy at part 3 being taken into account.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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