Emergency Support · April 2026 New fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund 2026: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply

From 1 April 2026, the Household Support Fund has been replaced by a new £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund. Most families who received help under the old scheme don't know the new fund exists. Here's everything you need to know and how to apply through your local council.

What is the Crisis and Resilience Fund?

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a new government scheme that replaced the Household Support Fund on 1 April 2026. The government announced the £1 billion investment as part of its Child Poverty Strategy, describing it as the most significant investment in local crisis support in a generation.

Unlike the Household Support Fund — which was repeatedly extended in short bursts, creating uncertainty for councils and families alike — the CRF is a three-year fund running until March 2029. This gives local authorities the stability to plan longer-term support rather than scrambling to spend money before arbitrary deadlines.

The fund also goes further than emergency food and fuel help. It is specifically designed to build what the government calls "financial resilience" — helping families not just survive a crisis, but become more financially stable so they are less likely to fall into crisis again.

How is it different from the Household Support Fund?

One important practical change: the CRF absorbs what were previously called Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in England. If you previously received a DHP to help with your rent, that type of support now comes through the CRF instead. The support itself is still available — it has just been consolidated into a single fund.

Who can apply?

The CRF is aimed at low-income households who have experienced a sudden, unexpected financial shock or loss of income. There is no single national eligibility criteria — each local council sets its own rules for who qualifies and what support is available.

In general, you are most likely to qualify if you are on a low income and have faced an unexpected financial emergency such as:

A sudden job loss or reduction in income, a family breakdown, an unexpected large bill (such as a boiler failure, flooding, or essential appliance breakdown), being released from hospital with no immediate support, or a domestic crisis that has left you without essentials. Being on benefits is not always required — many councils will consider applications from working families who are in genuine financial difficulty after an unexpected event.

Previous recipients of the Household Support Fund are not automatically eligible for the CRF. You will need to make a new application even if you received support under the old scheme.

What can you get help with?

Support varies by council, but the CRF guidance allows local authorities to help with a wide range of essential costs including food, energy bills, water bills, rent and housing costs, essential household items (white goods, furniture, clothing), transport costs where needed to maintain employment or access services, and debt and budgeting advice.

Some councils are using part of their CRF allocation to provide free school meal vouchers during school holidays for eligible families, as well as targeted support for care leavers and foster households. Bristol Council, for example, has confirmed free school meal vouchers for all school holidays up to Summer 2026 through the fund.

Support is not automatically cash payments — it may come as vouchers, direct payments to suppliers, or referrals to local advice services depending on your council's approach.

How to apply — step by step

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The CRF applies only in England. Equivalent support is available across the UK through devolved schemes. In Scotland, the Scottish Welfare Fund provides Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. In Wales, the Discretionary Assistance Fund provides Emergency Assistance Payments. In Northern Ireland, contact the Finance Support Service for discretionary support.

The bigger picture: other support available in 2026

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is specifically for emergency situations. If you are looking for ongoing financial support rather than crisis help, there is a range of other entitlements that may be available to your family in 2026.

The two-child limit on Universal Credit was abolished from 6 April 2026 — meaning families with three or more children may now be entitled to significantly higher UC payments. If you have not updated your claim since April, it is worth checking whether your payments have increased automatically or whether you need to report a change.

Free school meals are also expanding from September 2026 — the earnings cap is being removed for Universal Credit households, meaning many more working families will qualify for their children's lunches to be covered. This is automatic for families already on UC — no separate application needed.

If you are struggling with childcare costs, the Universal Credit childcare element covers up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. This is one of the most underclaimed entitlements in the system — many families simply do not know it exists.

The FamilyEntitled entitlements checker covers all of these in one place and will tell you exactly what your family is entitled to based on your situation.