Council Tax Discretionary Reduction

This short-term reduction can help to bridge the gap, giving you time and support, while you find a longer-term solution to improve your circumstances. Details can be found in our Discretionary Reduction Policy (PDF, 340 KB)(opens new window).  

Any award will be at our discretion after careful consideration of your circumstances. The award will be a credit on your Council Tax Account - not a cash payment.  Our budget for this is limited and any support would be intended as short-term assistance, not a means to reduce Council Tax indefinitely.

How to apply

Before applying for a discretionary reduction, you must have: 

1. Taken all reasonable steps to resolve the problems that are causing you exceptional hardship
2. Checked your entitlement to, and applied for, any other relevant Council Tax reductions. Please see our Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions page.

You will need to provide evidence of your situation and explain the steps you have taken to try to resolve the problems.  We will consider each case and circumstance individually.  We will also need to check that if you are in arrears with your Council Tax, that this is for a genuine reason - not simply because you have chosen not to pay.

• If you receive Council Tax Support and are experiencing exceptional hardship, please complete our exceptional hardship form (PDF, 98 KB)(opens new window). Return your completed form and supporting evidence to benefits.teamleaders@pspsl.co.uk  
• For any other exceptional circumstances, please apply using our email template

Other short term help we can give people in difficult circumstances

If you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing Costs and need extra help to pay your rent, please see our discretionary housing payments page.  Please also see details of other support available on the Cost of Living Support page.