Crisis and Resilience Fund launched as successor to Household Support Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund began in April 2026 and runs until April 2029, replacing the Household Support Fund (HSF) as the scheme through which councils in England help households in financial hardship¹. It was rolled out across local authorities by September 2026⁴. The fund is administered by local authorities, which each receive a pot of government money and decide how to run their own schemes, so the help available varies by council area⁵.

Councils must use the funding across three components: Crisis Payments, for essential costs such as food, energy bills and water bills; Housing Payments, for those facing a shortfall in meeting housing costs, previously Discretionary Housing Payments; and Resilience Services, funding for services that improve financial resilience, such as financial literacy and community support³. Turn2us lists the support generally available as Crisis Payments and Housing Payments⁴. Mencap describes the fund as money to prevent people going without essentials like energy, food, clothing and furniture, and says local authorities can provide cash, or in some cases specific items such as a new appliance, or vouchers².

On eligibility, Mencap says anyone can apply, or be directed to the fund by someone who supports them, such as staff at a food bank, a social worker or someone else, and that the fund is focused on people in or close to poverty, disabled people and older households². Which? reports that applicants must generally be aged 16 or over, have a low income and face an immediate financial emergency, and that receiving benefits is not a requirement, although households already on Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support are more likely to qualify¹. Turn2us classifies it as a means-tested benefit, meaning eligibility depends on income and capital⁵.

Applications are made through the local council, which should publish guidance on how to apply and offer a way to apply without an online form, such as by phone or in person². Mencap says applications for Crisis Payments should be accepted from someone acting on behalf of the applicant, including an appointee, a friend or relative, or a voluntary and community sector organisation, and that local authorities should aim to deliver Crisis Payments within 48 hours of a successful application². Which? reports that most councils limit applicants to one approved crisis payment within a six to 12-month window, and that urgent requests are usually processed within 48 hours¹. Mencap says benefit money is not affected by help from the fund², and Which? says crisis payments do not affect regular benefit payments¹.

Why it matters for households

The fund is the route to emergency local authority help in England now that the Household Support Fund has ended². Because each council designs its own scheme, what is offered, who qualifies and how often someone can apply differ by area, and the fund may help with arrears on essential bills such as rent, energy or council tax, or with buying food and other essentials⁶. Mencap states that when local authorities assess an application they have to consider the extra costs a disability creates, for example higher energy bills or the need to buy special food². Applicants may also be offered financial resilience support covering managing money and checking benefit entitlement, which Mencap says is optional². Separate arrangements operate in the devolved nations: the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland, and the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, which provides an Emergency Assistance Payment and an Individual Assistance Payment, both grants that do not need to be repaid¹. Housing Payments replace the former Discretionary Housing Payments³. General help with benefits and emergency costs is set out in the site's benefits section.

What happens next

The fund is set to run until April 2029¹. Which? reports that further cost of living measures are expected to be announced in the Autumn Budget on 28 October¹.