Discretionary Council Tax Relief policy (DOCX, 365.45 KB)

If you're struggling to pay your Council Tax, you may be eligible for Discretionary Council Tax relief (DCTR) if you have to pay Council Tax in Barking & Dagenham. 

Some applicants may struggle to meet their obligation to pay their Council Tax due to their current circumstances which may directly relate to their financial circumstances. 

The DCTR fund is available for the Council to assist these applicants who are facing ‘exceptional hardship’ and may need additional support to meet their Council Tax costs.

Support may be provided against Council Tax arrears from previous years or ongoing Council Tax costs. 

This DCTR relief fund will be available from the 01 April 2025 – 31 March 2026 only subject to demand and sufficient funding being available.

The main features of the fund 

• the operation of the fund is at the discretion of the Council
• there is no statutory right to payments from the fund but the Council will consider all applications received
• the fund will be available for outstanding Council Tax only and cannot be considered for any other debts
• Council Tax Support (CTS) must be in payment for an application to be considered for an award (unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated)
• DCTR payments are seen as a short term solution to ‘exceptional hardship’ and cannot be seen to be a long term solution
• applicants are expected to provide basic evidence with their application as set out in the wider discretionary funding policy framework and any other evidence deemed necessary to make a decision
• all applicants are expected to engage with the Council and work with wider support pathways as part of the application/award process
• applicants are expected to be willing to make payments towards their Council Tax and agree to make an affordable arrangement to pay the outstanding balance(s)

Basic eligibility criteria specific to DCTR 

For an applicant to be eligible to receive a DCTR payment towards their Council Tax liability certain criteria must be met as follows:

• the applicant must be liable to pay Council Tax at the property in which they live
• he applicant has an outstanding amount of Council Tax to pay (a balance due)
• the applicant is in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS)
• the applicant is willing to make payments towards the Council Tax bill and agree to make an arrangement 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
• have maximised their income through the application for all eligible welfare benefits
• deductions 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 is in receipt of all relevant Council Tax discounts such as single person discount
• the applicant has been significantly affected by the change in the Council Tax Support scheme in the 2025/26 financial year leading to a significant loss of support awarded under the previous scheme

How to claim Discretionary Council Tax Relief (DCTR) 

The Council Welfare service currently administers and operates three discretionary funding schemes of which there is one online application form for all schemes:

• Discretionary Council Tax Relief Scheme (DCTR)
• Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
• Household Support Fund (HSF)

Applications for all discretionary funding schemes must be made online and we will only consider your application against each scheme that you apply for. Evidence must be uploaded before submitting the application online.

Apply for Discretionary Council Tax Relief 

Evidence required  

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

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 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. 

If you are unable to make a claim online, then support to complete forms is also available from the Council’s digital champions volunteers who are available at local libraries and community HUBS. 

The Homes and Money Hub may also be available to provide support on making an application if the criteria is met.

You must give authority to act to anyone completing an application on your behalf.

Our outreach visiting service can support to make 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 you’re your contact details and details of which scheme that you wish to apply for and reasons for applying.