Islington Council announces £4m of extra financial support for residents, including those struggling to pay Council Tax

The council will use this extra money from Government to expand its hardship fund to help residents already struggling to pay their Council Tax bills. It will be used in two ways:

• Everyone receiving Council Tax Support will have their annual bill for 2020/21 automatically reduced by up to £150.
  This process will be completely automatic, so there is no need for people already on the Council Tax Support Scheme to do anything as their bills will be adjusted accordingly in the coming weeks.
• Additional funds will also be channelled into efforts to help other residents who run into financial hardship. This will be administered through our We Are Islington service, supporting those who are struggling due to the coronavirus outbreak. You can contact We Are Islington between 9am and 5pm every day on 020 7527 8222 or email weareislington@islington.gov.uk.

Cllr Satnam Gill, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, said: “We are in unprecedented times and determined to do all we can to help the people of Islington through an uncertain future.

“With extra money from the Government we can lessen the worry for 18,000 of our most vulnerable working-age households on the Council Tax Support Scheme, and will be writing to them shortly with further details.

“In the meantime, we are also working on ways to support others who have been hard-hit in these difficult times.

“If you have been affected by a loss of income due to the pandemic, please get in touch with We Are Islington and we will see how we can help.”

Cllr Richard Watts, leader of the council, said: “We will continue do everything in our power to reduce the impact of this global pandemic on everyone who lives and works in Islington.

“We have put a raft of measures in place and will keep monitoring the situation closely and look for any other ways we can to help those of us most in need.

“For the latest information please keep checking the council’s social media channels and the service updates page on our website. It is critical that we keep following Government advice to stay safe, stay at home, help the NHS and save lives.”

In addition to the above help, the council has recently enhanced its Resident Support Scheme, which offers temporary financial support to those facing severe difficulties caused by the coronavirus crisis.

If you need to apply for help for yourself, or on behalf of someone else as a result of difficulties caused by coronavirus, email your contact information and details about your situation to WeAreIslington@islington.gov.uk, who can issue vouchers towards groceries or fuel costs to those who qualify. Further guidance is available at www.islington.gov.uk/advice/resident-support-scheme.

Anyone with non-urgent or routine enquiries relating to Council Tax, including how to pay it, should not call We Are Islington but visit www.islington.gov.uk/council-tax/ways-to-pay as normal, where they can find information on different ways to pay, and much more.

Notes to editor

• There are approximately 18,000 households with at least one person of working age receiving Council Tax Support in Islington who will benefit from this announcement. Those on the scheme are some of the poorest and most vulnerable residents in the borough.
• Further information and guidance for residents about our Resident Support Scheme can be found here.
• The latest information from Islington Council can be found on its Twitter account @IslingtonBC, its Facebook page and the Changes To Services page on its website.