Help with council tax in Northumberland during coronavirus crisis

This includes allocating the authority’s share of the Government’s £500million hardship fund, which was set out on Tuesday March 24.

A council spokesman said: “We understand many people across Northumberland will be experiencing additional financial concerns because of coronavirus and we are working hard to provide a range of support.

“More information on what’s currently available can be found under the ‘Your questions answered’ section of our website – www.northumberland.gov.uk

“The Government has also allocated the council a share of the national £0.5billion hardship fund. Initially this will be used to increase the local council tax support for working age recipients, in line with national guidance.

“Any remaining funds will be used for further support for our most vulnerable, details of which are now being worked on, and we’ll communicate this to our residents as soon as possible.”

The ‘Your questions answered’ section is found in the council’s new coronavirus information hub – https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/coronavirus – which is updated regularly with information on services and advice to residents.

Responding to the publication of guidance around the £500million hardship funding earlier this week, Coun Richard Watts, chairman of the Local Government Association’s resources board, said: “Councils are leading local efforts to support communities as they try to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

“By accepting our call for local flexibility over some of this hardship funding, councils can better target some of it towards people who may be especially, or newly, vulnerable as a result of the coronavirus, using existing local welfare schemes.”

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Providing the necessary financial support to people and families is critical at this difficult time when many people will be concerned about changes to their income.

“That’s why we’re giving local councils an additional £500million, to ensure help is available for the most vulnerable people in our society who are struggling to pay their council tax bills.

“The Government is on your side and will do whatever it takes to help.”