Crisis Resilience Fund - replacing Discretionary Housing Payment
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a new, long-term national scheme launching on 1 April 2026 and running until 31 March 2029. It replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), establishing a single, three-year framework for local crisis support across England.
From 1 April 2026 Discretionary Housing Payment will be known as Housing Payment.
The criteria for qualifying for a Housing Payment will be the same as the Discretionary Housing Payment.
Applying for Housing Payment
(formerly known as Discretionary Housing Payment)
If you receive either Housing Benefit or a housing costs element within Universal Credit, but are still struggling to pay your rent, then you may be entitled to a housing payment to top up your benefit.
A discretionary housing payment can be considered in some circumstances for:
- Help with rent in advance
- Help with rent deposits
- Help with rent arrears
- Other lump sum costs associated with a housing need, such as removal costs
- Help with shortfalls between Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs and the contractual rent
Please note that a housing payment cannot be made if:
- You pay rent but are not entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing allowance
- Your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit has been reduced because you are repaying an overpayment of benefit.
Housing payments are not normal awards of benefit. They are made from a limited fund that the Department for Work and Pensions give to the council each year. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that your application will be successful. Each case will be considered on its own merits.
When making a decision we will take into consideration various factors including any special circumstances you may have, any disregarded income that may be available, whether it is possible to reduce your outgoings and whether it is reasonable to expect you to move to cheaper accommodation.
How to apply
- Read our Housing Payments Policy.
- Complete the Housing payment application form.
More information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a national scheme introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), providing funding to local authorities in England from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
The CRF is designed to support low-income households who face a financial shock, and to help strengthen both individual and community financial resilience.
Local Authorities have discretion over how the fund is used, in line with the latest government guidance.
We are currently reviewing the national guidance and working to design our local scheme.
Full details, including eligibility criteria, how to apply for Crisis Payments or Housing Payments, and information on support through Resilience Services and community partners, will be published here as soon as they are available. Please check back for updates.
The scheme is funded by the UK Government. For more information visit: GOV.UK - Crisis and Resilience Fund: Guidance for local authorities in England