Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is provided by the UK government. It offers help to low-income households who have a financial shock and to prevent crisis in the future.

The fund will be available for a three-year period, from April 2026 to March 2029.

The County Council manage the Crisis and Resilience Fund in Hertfordshire. If you are experiencing a financial crisis such as redundancy, bereavement, domestic abuse, fire and flood damage which seriously affects your finances visit the Hertfordshire County Council website to find out more and apply.

At Welwyn Hatfield we manage the Housing Payments offered as part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund. You can apply for this support using the application below.

Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments

If you get Housing Benefit or the Housing Cost element within your Universal Credit but still cannot pay your accommodation costs, you may be able to get help through the Housing Payment (HP).

It can help people with housing costs such as those affected by:

  • the benefit cap which restricts the amount of Benefits a person can receive
  • removal of the spare room subsidy in the social rented sector
  • Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates which restrict the rental cost used to calculate benefit to the local market rent

It may be used to cover:

  • a rent shortfall
  • rent deposits (evidence will be required)
  • rent in advance if you need to move home (evidence will be required)
  • rent arrears in certain circumstances

Apply online

To apply for Housing Payment complete the form in the link below and send it to Welhat.Benefits@liberata.com.

Start the Housing Payment and Council Tax Support Hardship Relief application

You should also attach appropriate evidence to support your claim such as:

  • evidence of your rent arrears showing how they have accumulated
  • your last two months bank statements for all your accounts to confirm expenditure
  • evidence of any debts such as credit card statement, loan statement, utility bills with arrears
  • most up to date award letter of Universal Credit showing all elements of the Universal Credit and all deductions
  • proof of eviction notice if applicable.

If you need this information in an alternative format please contact us.

 

Funded by UK Government