Crisis and Resilience Fund: How to Get Help From Your Council

Quick summary: If you're struggling to afford essentials like food, energy or an oven that's packed in, your council may be able to help through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, the scheme that replaced the Household Support Fund in April 2026. You don't need to be on benefits to qualify, and getting this help doesn't affect any benefits you already receive. Every council runs its own version, so there's no single national application, you apply directly to your own council.

What the Crisis and Resilience Fund actually is

For a few years, councils in England ran the Household Support Fund, using government money to help people cover food, energy and other essential costs during a crisis. That fund closed at the end of March 2026. In its place is the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), a new multi-year scheme running from April 2026 to March 2029.

The idea behind it is similar: government money is handed to local councils, and each council decides how to distribute it locally. You might see it called "welfare assistance", a "crisis payment scheme", a "hardship fund" or something specific to your area, the name varies, but it's the same underlying pot of money.

What it can help with

Depending on your council, support might come as:

A cash payment
Supermarket or fuel vouchers
Money paid directly towards an energy or water bill
Help buying an essential item, like a cooker, fridge or bed
Emergency food support

Some councils focus their fund on particular groups, such as pensioners no longer getting the Winter Fuel Payment, families with children, or unpaid carers, so what's available can genuinely differ depending on where you live.

Do you need to be on benefits?

No. You don't have to be receiving benefits to ask your council for help through this fund. And if you are already getting benefits, a payment from the Crisis and Resilience Fund won't affect them.

How to apply

There's no single national website or form, because every council designs and runs its own scheme. To apply:

1. Find your council using GOV.UK's local council finder

2. Search your council's website for "Crisis and Resilience Fund", "welfare assistance" or "crisis payment"

3. Check what evidence they ask for, this often includes bank statements, proof of income and details of the specific hardship you're facing

4. Apply through their online form, or call them if you can't apply online

If you're not sure where to start, Citizens Advice has a clear overview of this kind of council support and how to find it:

Get help with the cost of living, Citizens Advice

Other emergency grants worth checking

The Crisis and Resilience Fund isn't the only source of one-off help. Charities also run grant schemes, some open to anyone, others specific to your age, health, or the job you do or used to do. Turn2us runs a free search tool that matches you to grants you might qualify for:

Search for a charitable grant, Turn2us

What this fund is not

It's worth knowing this isn't the same as the old Cost of Living Payments. Those were a separate, direct payment from central government during the worst of the energy crisis, and there are no more of those payments planned. The Crisis and Resilience Fund is different: it's ongoing, locally administered, and aimed at individual households in a specific tight spot rather than a universal payment to everyone.

If money is tight while you wait for a benefit claim

If you've just applied for Universal Credit and the five-week wait for your first payment is the immediate problem, a council crisis payment can help, but so can requesting an advance directly from DWP. See our guide: Universal Credit Advance Payment: How to Get Money Fast.

And if you're over State Pension age, it's always worth checking Pension Credit before anything else, since it unlocks a whole run of other help on top of the cash itself. See our guide: Pension Credit: The Benefit a Million Pensioners Are Missing.

If you need food help today

Applying to your council can take days to process. If you need food right now, search for a food bank near you by postcode or town, no application needed for most. If you're not sure where to start, our step-by-step guide covers everything worth trying in the first 48 hours: No Money for Food? What to Do Right Now.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Crisis and Resilience Fund the same as the Household Support Fund?

It's the replacement for it. The Household Support Fund closed at the end of March 2026. The Crisis and Resilience Fund took over from April 2026 with broadly the same purpose, though the exact rules are set locally by each council.

How much can I get?

There's no fixed national amount, it depends entirely on your council's scheme, your circumstances and their available funding. Some councils cap what a household can receive in a 12-month period.

Will applying affect my benefits?

No. Money from your council's crisis scheme is separate from your benefits and won't reduce them.

What if my council says the fund has run out?

Funding is limited and some councils pause applications when their allocation for the year is used up. If that happens, ask about other local support, food banks, charitable grants, or their winter warm space provision, and try again once their next funding period opens.

Can I get help if I'm not a UK citizen?

Rules vary by council and by your immigration status. Contact your council directly and explain your situation, some support is available regardless of immigration status.