Can I get help from the Crisis and Resilience Fund?

The fund is aimed at low income households and people who are vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. 

You don’t need to be getting benefits to get support from the Fund. 

Applications will be prioritised according to local authority rules around need and circumstances. 

Your individual circumstances will be assessed, such as your savings and income and you’ll have to verify your identity and address.

Crisis Payments

You can apply for a Crisis Payment to help cover costs if:

• You have experienced a financial shock, which is an unexpected and sudden drop in income or expenses. 
• You are about to enter a crisis and need support to manage pressures and avoid being pushed into crisis or escalation

Here are some examples of situations where you might be eligible:

• You need help with food or heating costs 
• You are facing a gap in your regular income due to redundancy or a change at work
• You have experienced an unexpected crisis, including an accident, health emergency or mental health crisis
• Your home has been affected by a fire or flood 
• You are a victim of domestic abuse and need financial support leaving a relationship
• You have experienced a breakage of an essential item, such as for white goods, medical equipment or fuel equipment 
• You are a grandparent or other relative who has taken over caring for a child, and you’re waiting for a transfer of benefits 

No recourse to public funds 

This area is complicated. If you have No Recourse to Public Funds, you might be eligible for a Crisis Payment if you have exceptional circumstances. We suggest using the Find an Adviser tool to find a trained benefit specialist. 

Housing Payments

You can apply for a Housing Payment to help with housing costs. You can apply if you get, or are waiting for a first payment of: 

• Universal Credit housing element  
• Housing Benefit 

Housing Payments can be used for:

• Rent
• Rental deposits 
• Shortfalls between housing support and the actual rent amount
• Costs associated with securing housing or downsizing 

If you aren’t eligible for a Housing Payment due to not receiving Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, you might be able to get support with your housing costs through a Crisis Payment instead.