Helping Residents Improve Financial Wellbeing, Skills, and Community Life

Leicester City Council offers various support schemes to help residents manage household costs, housing pressures, community initiatives, and financial skills. Whether you need help with council tax, rent, energy bills, or local projects, here’s what’s available:

Council Tax Support & Discretionary Relief

Leicester’s Council Tax Support offers up to 100% relief for vulnerable households and up to 80% for others, based on income and savings (under £6,000, or £16,000 if pension-age).
 If you’re in severe hardship, the Council Tax Discretionary Relief Scheme may further reduce your bill—applications are made online, via email, or by calling 0116 454 1005.

Discretionary Housing Payments & HSF

Leicester offers crisis-based payments to top up Housing Benefit or Universal Credit for housing or council tax shortfalls—these are short-term and assessed case-by-case.
 The Council’s Housing Support Fund channel may also help homeowners with emergency accommodation or rent arrears, following consultation.

Household Support Fund (HSF)

The local HSF provides e-vouchers for food, utilities, and household essentials—but it’s currently closed and will reopen when new funding is received.

When operational, support is accessed via professional referrals (from social workers, housing officers, schools) or by contacting HSF team on 0116 454 1019.

Cost‑of‑Living & Money Advice

Through Better Off Leicester and Welfare Rights, the Council offers benefit checks, debt advice, budgeting support, and signposting to services like MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice 

Community Support Grants offer vouchers (not cash) for food and energy emergencies .
 The “Big Difference Scheme” can reduce Severn Trent water costs by up to 90% for eligible low-income households.

Energy Efficiency Support – ECO4 Scheme

Leicester residents may also benefit from the ECO4 scheme, a UK Government-backed initiative designed to improve energy efficiency in low-income or vulnerable households.
The scheme can help fund improvements like home insulation, boiler upgrades, and heating system replacements, helping to lower energy bills and improve warmth.

Eligibility often includes being in receipt of benefits or meeting local authority flexible eligibility criteria. Use our eligibility checker to find out if you may qualify, and we’ll handle the rest.

Community & Skills Funding

Historically, Leicester participated in the Community Renewal Fund (2022), supporting local skills, ESOL, women’s entrepreneurship, digital mentoring, and textile industry initiatives.

Current Council community grants—details on amounts or application windows—are best checked via the benefits/support pages or by contacting the Community Development team.

One Last Thing

Leicester City Council is working to cushion immediate pressures, such as council tax, rent, food, and energy, while supporting longer-term resilience through money advice, skills, and community projects. If you’re facing financial strain or have a local community idea, it’s worth exploring these options, help is available.