Coronavirus: Fife Council offers rent and council tax support

The council has made the payments more flexible, and allowed people to reduce or defer both payments depending on circumstances.

In a statement, Fife Council advised: “If your income has reduced, you should click on the ‘Council tax’ reduction box on our website and enter your details into the online calculator to find out if you qualify for Council Tax Reduction.

“If you currently receive a council tax reduction you should let us know as soon as possible if there are any changes to your circumstances. We will then be able to make sure you’re given the correct discount.

“If you’re unable to keep up your Council Tax payments again, go to www.fife.gov.uk/counciltax and scroll to the bottom of the screen to the ‘Council Tax General Enquiries’ blue box. Please complete the form outlining your current difficulty and any payment proposals.”

Anyone requiring rent support during this time, should visit www.fife.gov.uk/housing click on ‘council housing’ and then ‘rent’. Discretionary housing grants may also be made available for those struggling to keep up with rent during this time.

In a joint statement from council co-leaders David Alexander and David Ross, they said: “For those who are already struggling financially through minimum wage jobs, zero hours contracts, unemployment and for those who are self-employed or contract workers we understand that there is a significant level of anxiety. We’re going to be flexible with council tax and rent payments, allowing people to reduce or defer them, depending on individual circumstances.”