Overview
Each year, local authorities are given a limited amount of money to provide additional help to those people who are having trouble paying their rental shortfall or finding enough money to pay for the start up costs of a tenancy, such as a deposit. This is known as the discretionary housing payment scheme.
Discretionary reductions to Council Tax can be made if you can show you need additional help with your current Council Tax payment. This is known as the exceptional hardship award.