'Hardship' grant for families hit by 10% tax hike

Families in Bradford could receive a one-off grant to help offset a 10% increase in their council tax bills.

The money will come from a new £1.2m "hardship fund" created by Bradford Council following its announcement of the higher-than-average hike in local taxes.

The £30 boost for low income families would be applied automatically for those already receiving council tax support, with new claimants also eligible until the money runs out.

Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said it would offer some "crucial extra support" for vulnerable families already affected by the cost of living crisis.

The local authority's decision-making executive will meet next week to rubber stamp the council tax increase.

Bradford Council - which escaped effective bankruptcy last year - has already received special permission from the government to allow it to raise its local levy by double the normal maximum of 4.99% to help ease its ongoing financial woes.

The new hardship fund could potentially help up to 40,000 households with £30 grants. Of those, 29,000 already qualify.

Families living in Band A properties in Bradford - 40% of all homes in the district - will see their bills increase by £113.34 annually. The hardship grant effectively gives those eligible a 25% discount on that rise.

Hinchcliffe said: "People in receipt of council tax relief are the most vulnerable to changes in income and we want to ease the burden on them of a council tax rise.

"No council takes the decision to raise council tax lightly as we know this will add to the cost of living for residents, but we are facing huge costs and demand for services, particularly social care for children and adults, and we have a responsibility to make sure the council's finances balance. It's cold comfort I know but, even with this increase, the council tax Bradford Council charges will still be below average nationally."

Eligible households will get a one-off £30 award automatically credited to their council tax account, and they don't have to apply.

To be eligible, you must already be getting rebates on your bills and be of working age as of March 31, 2025, for existing claimants.

The council says new claimants of working age who apply for the standard rebate will also be eligible for the one-off payment.

The authority is also putting £500,000 into more support services for welfare benefit and debt advice services over the next two years.

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