The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a national scheme launching on 1 April 2026.
It replaces both the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), and brings crisis support and resilience-building activity into one national framework.
GOV.UK guidance on the Crisis and Resilience Fund (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029)
The fund allows councils to:
- provide effective crisis support
- improve residents' financial resilience
- strengthen local support through partnership work and co-ordination
The guidance promotes a person-centred, trauma-informed, cash-first approach that offers dignified, flexible and tailored to individual needs.
CRF support areas
CRF support is delivered through:
- Crisis Payments – immediate cash-first help for essential needs during a financial crisis
- Housing Payments – replaces Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and provides financial help for residents entitled to a qualifying benefit who face shortfalls in their housing costs
- Heating Oil Support - help for some households affected by rising heating oil costs
We are reviewing the government guidance and will co-design the local scheme with community partners and resilience services to ensure support meets local needs.
Further details will be published once the local framework is finalised.