Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) has now been launched by the Government and provides assistance for low-income households who are experiencing a financial shock, or are at risk of falling into crisis.

Where appropriate, eligible residents can receive a crisis payment as part of wider support and advice.

Cases are assessed on an individual basis, as one person’s crisis may not be a crisis for someone else. The applicant’s circumstances must be fully understood. The need for help is client-focussed and should assess the financial shock to the individual or family.

Examples of eligible situations include:

• A sudden loss of income or reduced hours
• An unexpected essential bill or cost
• A delay or change in benefits
• Illness, caring responsibilities, or a family emergency
• Urgent housing issues that increase financial pressure

Support delivery

Citizens Advice branches across Hampshire are helping deliver this by:

• Ensuring applicants are eligible
• Checking that there is a crisis or emergency situation
• Confirming engagement to improve financial resilience against future shocks

Eligibility criteria

Individuals can apply if they:

• Live full time in Hampshire (Note: Southampton City, Portsmouth City, and the Isle of Wight Councils operate their own schemes.)

• Are facing financial hardship, such as inability to pay for essentials (e.g. food or fuel) or have experienced a sudden loss of income

• Have an immediate need, such as unexpected events like appliance failure or emergency housing needs

• Have an adult in the household who is currently entitled to a means-tested, passporting benefit, including:

  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
  • Housing Benefit OR
  • Have a low household income after paying essential living costs (less than £20,400)

• Can evidence that the household does not have sufficient resources to resolve the immediate crisis without:

  • Going without essentials
  • Incurring unmanageable debt
  • Exacerbating financial harm

• Have limited access to savings (less than £6,000)

Information you will need to provide

• Financial information, such as:
  • Bank statements from the last month
  • Recent income details
  • Savings information
• Photo ID and proof of address
• Proof of crisis, for example:
  • Quote for appliance repairs
  • Letter of redundancy
  • Car repair bill

How to apply

Need more help? Visit our Get Advice page for details of our Adviceline and in-person advice sessions to talk directly with a member of our team.

If your application is successful, Citizens Advice will work with you to provide support. Payments may be made via:

• Post Office cash exchange vouchers
• PayPoint vouchers redeemable in participating stores