The cost of living support could also benefit those on low income
The Department for Work and Pensions is urging people who have fallen on hard times to ‘check your local council’s website’. That is because they could be eligible for cost of living support from something called the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
The fund is run by local councils in England, with each council creating its own application processes, eligibility criteria and support systems with the fund. The aim is to best help those in the community who are facing a sudden drop in income, unexpected expenses or are struggling on a low income.
Taking to X, the DWP urged people to “ask your local council” if you’re facing a “sudden drop in income”. And highlighted a number of other cost of living support available through DWP benefits.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund was introduced in April 2026 and replaced the Household Support Fund. It’s main purpose is to provide a “safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock” according to official Government guidance.
It’s also meant to fund local financial resilience that can enable people to better deal with crisis in the long-term. According to the website Turn2Us, the fund can provide households with two different types of support in general.
Crisis payments
These will be for households that have experienced a financial shock, such as an unexpected and sudden drop in income or rise in expenses. This will include people about to enter a crisis and needing support to managing pressures and avoid the situation from escalating.
Some situations that could make you eligible, depending on your local council’s criteria:
- You have a gap in your regular income due to redundancy or change at work
- Your home has been affected by a fire or flood
- You have taken over care of a child and are waiting for transfer of benefits
Housing payments
Housing payments may be available to people waiting for their first Universal Credit housing element or housing benefits payments. People might be able to use it to cover rent, deposits, shortfalls between housing support and their actual rent amount or the costs linked with securing housing.
People who don’t receive the benefits linked with this payment but need to cover these expenses may be able to get support through a Crisis Payment instead.
However, each council can decide how best to help its community and run its own scheme meaning the support on offer may differ depending where you live. You can use the Gov.uk’s Council Finder tool to check what your local council’s rules are.
According to Turn2Us, most local authorities will try to give a decision on urgent requests within 48 hours and will share the outcome of your crisis payment applications as soon as possible.
