The Coronavirus pandemic has left many households in Cornwall facing financial instability and uncertainty, however, there are schemes in place that could help those in need balance their budgets.

An extra £3million has been made available since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic to help ease the financial pressures of those who may be struggling.

Alongside this, residents could also claim rebates of up to £75 on their council tax payments.

From Council tax discounts to hardship funds, these are all the ways in which families can get help from Cornwall Council.

Council Tax Support (CTS) - Council Tax Support helps people who are on a low income or claiming certain benefits to pay some of their Council Tax bill.

Residents can claim Council Tax Support if you own your own home or rent.

Claims can also be made whether working or unemployed.

Entitlement to Council Tax Support is based on how much income, capital and savings a household has.

To find out eligibility for council tax support, visit the Council's Apply For Council Tax Support page.

Exceptional Support - Applicants of working age, receiving council tax support and currently experiencing exceptional difficulties paying council tax could get the Exceptional Relief fund.

This relief fund is granted through the Council's own decision making process and residents have no legal right to it.

However, if applicants are able to demonstrate a local connection to Cornwall, usually meaning having been resident in the county for the past 12 months, as well as demonstrating a genuine need for relief and that the awarding of this grant will enable the applicant to reach a long-term solution that is not reliant on further discretionary awards.

Applicants will also need to have not received more than £1500 through the Crisis and Care award (CCA) scheme in the last 12 months.

To find out eligibility for an Exceptional Relief Award, visit the Council's Apply for Exceptional Relief Award page.

Falmouth Packet: residents could also claim rebates of up to £75 on their council tax payments. residents could also claim rebates of up to £75 on their council tax payments.

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Housing Benefit - Housing benefit is designed to help pay the rents of people who are currently not working, on low-incomes, or in receipt of other benefits.

Since the introduction of Universal Credit (UC), however, not everyone is eligible to housing benefits as UC payments will, in most cases, also cover renting costs.

People of pension age are able to claim Housing Benefits, however, applicants that are of working age can only claim housing benefit if they are living in supported, temporary or emergency accommodation.

To apply for Housing Benefit, visit the Council's Apply for Housing Benefit webpage.

Crisis and Care Awards - Crisis awards are for people in emergency or disaster situations in order to help them and their families with immediate needs.

Care awards help the most vulnerable people in the community to live as independently as possible.

In order to qualify for a Crisis and Care Award, applicants must be over the age of 16, currently be in an emergency or disaster situation, defined as needing immediate help to avoid serious damage or risk or currently experiencing a fire or flood.

Applicants will also need to be able to prove this is the case, live in Cornwall and have a local connection.

To apply for a Crisis and Care Award, please call Cornwall Council's Benefits line on: 0300 1234 121.

Hardship Funds - Cornwall Council are also able to make Hardship payments of £150 to those residents already in receipt of CTS.

The standard hardship payments of £150 will not be subject to an application process and will be awarded automatically by Cornwall Council’s Assessment Billing and Collection team.

If residents have not received this fund and feel they should have, please call Cornwall Council's Benefits line on: 0300 1234 121.