Cost Of Living Support Fund (COLSF)

The council is aware that the cost-of-living crisis is causing hardship to residents who are unable to improve their circumstances in the short term while inflation outstrips income. A cost-of-living crisis fund has been set up for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years to support Uttlesford residents who may be struggling to pay their Council Tax liability.

The Cost of Living Support Fund is a locally defined discount and any award will be applied to the applicants Council Tax account. For full details of the scheme read the Cost of Living Support Fund Policy 2024/25 (opens in new window).

This scheme is on an application basis only. Eligible households awards will be determined up to the total of the Council Tax liability, or lower dependent on financial circumstances, for the 2023/2024 or 2024/2025 financial years (1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024, 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025).

Applications will be accepted from 1 April 2023 and the deadline for applications is 31 March 2025.

Any resident who has an outstanding balance prior to the 1 April 2023 will need to apply for help from the Exceptional Hardship Fund as a backdate request – in the first instance they should contact the Recovery Team to discuss their account by email to: recovery@uttlesford.gov.uk