Decision details

The report is proposing two amendments to the existing Exceptional Hardship policy. They are to accept an application for a Discretionary Housing Payment as an application for an Exceptional Hardship Payment and to remove the provision that an EHP cannot be used to pay arrears of council tax.

(1) To approve the revised Council Tax Reduction Scheme Exceptional Hardship Policy set out at Appendix 1 of the Report, incorporating the following amendments:

(i)            The Council may accept an application for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) as an application for an Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP).

(ii)          The Council may use Exceptional Hardship Payments to meet arrears of council tax.

(iii)         The Exceptional Hardship fund and equalities.

(2)  To grant delegated authority to the Director of Service Delivery to implement the revised Policy.

Approving amendment (1) above would mean that a resident would only have to complete one application form to potentially get a Discretionary Housing Payment and an Exceptional Hardship Payment rather than, as is currently the case, having to complete two forms.

Currently, an Exceptional Hardship Payment can only be awarded for council tax due in the financial year that the claim is made. This excludes people who are struggling to meet arrears from previous years.