Benefits and support Extra help with your council tax bill

Discretionary Council Tax Payments

You may be able to get temporary help through a discretionary payment in certain circumstances, if you are struggling to pay your council tax. 

There are no definite rules for who qualifies - you don't even have to be entitled to Council Tax Support. We look at each application individually. But you must:

  • live in the area covered by Manchester City Council; and
  • be in severe hardship through unusual circumstances.

We are more likely to give you extra help if:

  • you started to have problems recently - after a reduction in Council Tax Support for instance - rather than having had problems for a long time 
  • your council tax problems are out of the control of you and your household - we expect adults who live with you to contribute to the bill
  • you will work with us to pay off any council tax you owe, and are likely to stay out of debt in the future.

Policy on Discretionary Council Tax Payments

If you apply, but are refused, we won't normally consider another application unless your circumstances have become worse.

Was this page helpful?

Fields marked * cannot be left blank

Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you won’t receive a reply. In an emergency, visit our emergency contact details page. Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers.