The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026. Its replacement is the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), a £1 billion fund that started on 1 April 2026 and runs until 31 March 2029. It is for England only, it is delivered by your local council, and there is no single national application form — you apply through your council. If you have been searching for the Household Support Fund this winter, this is the scheme that has taken its place.

The new fund is the biggest change to local crisis support in England in years. It brings together two older schemes into one grant, gives councils three years of funding instead of one, and adds a second purpose: not just helping people in a crisis, but helping them become more resilient so the next crisis hits less hard. This guide explains who the fund is for, what it can pay for, how much help is available, and exactly how to apply.

What is the Crisis and Resilience Fund?

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is a government grant paid to local authorities in England so they can support low-income households that hit a financial shock, and fund activity that builds individual and community financial resilience. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sets the framework, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provides the money to councils under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

The fund was announced on 3 February 2026 as a £1 billion package, described by the government as the most significant investment in local crisis support in a generation. The £1 billion figure covers the whole package including Barnett consequentials for the devolved nations. For England, the grant determination for 2026-27 allocates £858,004,578 to local authorities in the first year. Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2029 — the first time crisis support has had a multi-year settlement, replacing the annual cliff-edge funding cycle that forced councils to plan one year at a time.

What did the Crisis and Resilience Fund replace?

The fund replaces two schemes at once. The first is the Household Support Fund (HSF), which the DWP launched in October 2021 as temporary help with rising living costs and extended several times before it closed on 31 March 2026. The second is Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs), the payments councils used to help people who faced a shortfall between their rent and their Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. In England, DHPs are now folded into the Crisis and Resilience Fund as its Housing Payment element.

That change matters for anyone who used to claim a DHP: from April 2026, housing-cost help comes through the same fund as other crisis support, and you ask your council about it in the same place. Discretionary Housing Payments continue to exist in Wales, where welfare is devolved differently.

• Household Support Fund — Ended 31 March 2026 in England
• Discretionary Housing Payments — Folded into the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England from 1 April 2026; continue in Wales
• Crisis and Resilience Fund — Running 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, England only

Who can get help from the fund?

The fund is for low-income households in England that encounter a financial shock — a sudden bill, a broken essential appliance, a gap between paydays, or any unexpected cost that leaves a household unable to cover the basics. The government guidance does not set one national eligibility list. Instead, each local authority decides who qualifies in its area, within the DWP's framework. That means the same household may qualify in one council area and not in another, and the type of help on offer can differ from place to place.

Councils are expected to target households most in need, including families with children, pensioners, disabled people, unpaid carers and care leavers. Under the old Household Support Fund, councils also supported people who were not on benefits, including working households on low incomes, and the new fund keeps that local discretion. The only way to know whether you qualify is to check your own council's rules.

There is no requirement to be claiming Universal Credit or any other benefit to ask for help, but some councils do prioritise people on means-tested benefits, and some run their schemes through local charities, food banks and community organisations rather than taking applications directly. If your council works that way, its website will say so.

What can the money be used for?

Councils must split their allocation across two main strands. The Crisis Payment strand provides support to people in crisis — typically help with food, energy and water bills, and essential household items. The Housing Payment strand provides financial support towards housing needs for people who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs, including help to secure accommodation and to bridge the gap between rent and the Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payable.

On top of those two strands, councils can fund activity that builds financial resilience: advice services, help with budgeting, and community projects that reduce the need for crisis help in the long term. The guidance also says the fund is classified as Local Welfare Provision and can be used to enhance existing Local Welfare Assistance schemes, but it is not intended to replace them — those established discretionary schemes continue alongside the fund.

How much help can you get?

There is no set national amount. Each council sets its own award limits based on local need and the funding it has received, so the value of help varies widely. Some councils advertise help of up to £250 or more for a crisis award; others set different limits or give help as vouchers and direct payments to suppliers rather than cash. Because funding is limited, many councils close applications once their allocation for the period runs out, so applying early matters.

The size of the fund varies sharply by area, because allocations follow population and need. In 2026-27, Birmingham received the largest single allocation at £28,665,861, and Manchester received £14,534,015. Smaller district councils receive far less, and from year three of the fund — the financial year ending March 2029 — district councils will no longer receive a separate allocation.

• England (total) — £858,004,578
• Birmingham — £28,665,861
• Manchester — £14,534,015

How to apply for the Crisis and Resilience Fund

There is no central government application and no national helpline for the fund. You apply through the council where you live. Go to your council's website and search for "Crisis and Resilience Fund" — most councils have a dedicated page setting out who qualifies, what help is available and how to apply. Some councils take applications online; others ask you to phone or visit, or to go through a partner charity or food bank.

Before you apply, have the basics ready: proof of where you live, evidence of your income or benefits, and details of the cost you need help with, such as an energy bill or a rent statement. Councils will usually want to see that the need is genuine and that the household is on a low income. If your council's fund is closed or fully spent, ask about its Local Welfare Assistance scheme — that separate safety net still exists — and about local food banks and advice services.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The Crisis and Resilience Fund applies to England only, because local welfare provision is devolved. Scotland has the Scottish Welfare Fund, Wales has the Discretionary Assistance Fund, and Northern Ireland has the Discretionary Support scheme. If you live outside England, search for those schemes instead — the fund described in this guide will not apply to you.

What is different from the old Household Support Fund?

Three things. First, time: the old fund was extended year by year and always faced a cliff edge; the new fund is confirmed for three years, so councils can plan properly. Second, scope: housing help is now inside the same fund rather than a separate Discretionary Housing Payments pot. Third, purpose: alongside crisis payments, councils must invest in resilience — advice and prevention work intended to stop the same households needing emergency help again and again. For people looking for help, the practical difference is the name on the council's website and, in some areas, a wider range of support on offer. The route in is the same: your local council.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Household Support Fund still running?

No. In England the Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026. It was replaced on 1 April 2026 by the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Do I need to be on benefits to get help?

Not necessarily. Councils set their own eligibility rules, and help is aimed at low-income households generally, including working households. Check your council's page to see who qualifies in your area.

How do I apply?

Through your local council in England. Search your council's website for "Crisis and Resilience Fund" and follow its application process. There is no national application form.

Is the money a loan?

No. The fund is grant money paid to councils to help households in crisis. It is not a loan and does not have to be repaid.

How long will the fund last?

Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2029. The first year's allocation to English councils was £858,004,578.

Rules and award amounts are set locally, so check your own council's website for the current position in your area. This article is general information, not personal financial advice.