Advertisement  ·  Sponsored information from AL Investments · Not affiliated with any government body
AL Investments logo AL Investments
Independent guide
Not a government site
New government fund in England

England's new Crisis and Resilience Fund: who could qualify for help with household costs in 2026

A new government fund is now running across England. Called the Crisis and Resilience Fund, it took over from the Household Support Fund in April 2026 and gives councils money to help people through sudden money worries. This guide sets out, in plain English, what help is on offer, who might be able to get it, and how to apply through your council.

Sponsored information from AL Investments Updated: 11 August 2026
A couple going through household paperwork together at home

The fund is aimed at people facing a sudden money shock, and at building steadier finances over time.

This is not an official government website. AL Investments is an independent, ad-funded information service with no connection to the UK Government, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, or any council. You apply through your own council, never on this page.

A quick note first: what follows is general information, not financial, benefits or legal advice, and nothing here is a recommendation. Because each council runs its own version, the rules and amounts differ from place to place. For your own situation, check your council's website or GOV.UK, or talk to a free adviser such as Citizens Advice.

What the Crisis and Resilience Fund is

In short, it is money from central government handed to councils in England so they can step in when residents hit a sudden financial problem, and help people build a bit more of a buffer for the future.

The fund began on 1 April 2026, picking up where the Household Support Fund left off after its final round ended in March 2026. It is expected to run across three financial years, up to 31 March 2029. Every council shapes its own local version, which is why the exact support, the amounts and the qualifying rules are not the same everywhere.

The key facts

£858m
shared between councils in England for 2026 to 2027
Apr 2026
the month it replaced the Household Support Fund
3 years
planned to run through to 31 March 2029
England
delivered only by local councils

The four kinds of help

Government guidance asks councils to spread their money across four areas:

Crisis Payment

Fast help for someone in a financial emergency, towards essentials like food, energy and other urgent bills. You do not need to be claiming benefits to be considered.

Housing Payment

Help towards housing costs such as a shortfall in rent. This part takes over from Discretionary Housing Payments and usually needs Housing Benefit or Universal Credit that includes housing costs.

Resilience Services

Practical, longer-term support such as budgeting and money guidance, aimed at helping people handle surprise costs before they turn into a crisis.

Community Coordination

Money for local groups and services that help connect people to the right support close to home.

Who could qualify?

The finer detail is set by each council, so treat the points below as a general picture rather than a promise:

A person calmly filling in a form at a kitchen table
You apply through your own council, using whichever route suits you best.
Please keep in mind You apply for the Crisis and Resilience Fund through your local council, not on this website. This page is information only, it does not collect applications or bank details, and it plays no part in deciding who gets help. Nobody should ever ask you to pay a fee to reach the fund.

Applying, step by step

Track down your councilUse the GOV.UK "Find your local council" tool, or search your council's name with "Crisis and Resilience Fund".
Read the local rulesLook at who qualifies where you live, what help is available and any evidence you may be asked for.
Use an official routeCouncils must offer at least two ways to apply, for example online, by phone or in person.
A community adviser helping a visitor at a welcoming desk
Free advisers, including Citizens Advice, can talk you through what support might be open to you.

From Household Support Fund to today

Up to March 2026
The Household Support Fund ran its final round across England.
1 April 2026
The Crisis and Resilience Fund took its place.
2026 to 2027
Around £858 million was shared between councils in England for the first year.
To 31 March 2029
The fund is planned to continue for three financial years, with councils running it locally.

Questions people ask

No. AL Investments is an independent, ad-funded information service and has no link to the government or any council. To apply, use your local council or GOV.UK.
No. This page does not take applications. You apply for the Crisis and Resilience Fund through your local council using its official routes.
Not for a Crisis Payment, which is not limited to people on benefits. Councils set their own low-income rules. Help with housing costs does usually need Housing Benefit or Universal Credit that includes housing costs.
In England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate arrangements.
It is planned to run until 31 March 2029. Each council opens and manages its own local fund, so check your council's page for what is available in your area right now.

Official sources

For the rules that actually apply to you, always rely on GOV.UK and your own council.

Optional

Prefer to be kept in the loop?

There is nothing to sign up for to read this page, it is all free. If it helps, we can send you the occasional plain-English update about the Crisis and Resilience Fund by email. It is entirely optional, it is not an application for the fund, and you can stop the emails whenever you like.

This is optional and is not needed to read the page or to apply for the fund. We use your details only for these updates, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

That is you signed up

We will send the occasional update about the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Remember, applications go through your local council.

Disclaimer: This is an advertisement and a sponsored information article from AL Investments. It offers general information only and is not financial, benefits, tax or legal advice, nor a recommendation. AL Investments has no affiliation with the UK Government, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, or any local council. Who qualifies, how much is paid and how to apply are decided by individual councils and can change. Details are believed correct as at 11 August 2026. Always double check on GOV.UK or your local council's website.