The Crisis and Resilience Fund provides short-term financial support to residents facing immediate hardship or an unexpected financial emergency. This fund is designed to help you manage essential living costs during a crisis and build long-term stability when other forms of support are unavailable.
Housing Payments help those who are in receipt of Housing Benefits (HB) or an award of the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE) to meet the cost of their rent.
Housing Payments are funded by the UK Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), decisions are made in accordance with the Lewes District Council's and Eastbourne Borough Council's Housing Payment Policy, which takes the Department of Work and Pensions' CRF Guidance for Local Authorities into account.
Housing Payments are normally awarded where there is a shortfall between the eligible rent and HB or UCHE. Housing Payments are awarded to help people in the short term and cannot be relied upon for the long term.
You can also apply for a Housing Payment if you require help with your rent-in-advance or deposit to secure a new property, it is only awarded in exceptional circumstances and when you have no other means of getting the rent in advance or deposit. If you are moving into the area, you must apply to the authority you are leaving for help to secure your new property.
They can be awarded to help with rent arrears but only for periods where you have received HB or UCHE and the arrears are due to the shortfall in the rent. Arrears will only be considered to sustain a current tenancy and are not awarded to keep you in a property that is not affordable to you.
Housing Payments are discretionary and limited to the available funding.
Can I appeal against a Housing Payment decision?
If you disagree with a decision about your Housing Payment, you should write to us, requesting a review, explain why you do not agree with the decision and provide any supporting evidence. This must be sent to us within one month of the date of the letter telling you about the initial decision.
The decision will be looked at by a senior officer, not involved in the initial decision and they will write to you after they have reviewed your case. This reviewed decision is final and does not carry a right of appeal to a Social Security Tribunal.
How do I apply for a Housing Payment?
To apply for a Housing Payment, please complete our online form. For those not able to access online services, a physical version of the application can be requested from the council.
Central Government made the decision to end the Household Support Fund from 31 March 2026. This is not a result of local government policy change or budget cuts locally.
What is the Crisis and Resilience (CRF) Fund?
The CRF offers Government funding to help people on low incomes and in financial crisis move to a more stable financial position. There are four elements to the fund:
A CRF crisis payment scheme
Funding for financial resilience services
Funding for community coordination
Housing payments - these will be delivered through District and Borough Councils in Years 1 and 2
How are CRF crisis payments different to HSF payments?
With the CRF, you will need to evidence that circumstances are having a severe impact on financial wellbeing e.g. redundancy, bereavement, domestic abuse, damage to property through flood or fire etc. You may also need to evidence low income.
Recipients will be referred to support services to help them move to a more stable financial position, reducing the need for future payments.
How can I apply for a CRF crisis payment?
East Sussex County Councuil has commissioed a new service to process applications, which is available online, by phone or in person. East Sussex County Council will not be accepting applications directly - these will be made through a delivery partner, which will also process the payment where an application is successful.
Where can I get updates on progress with the new CRF crisis payments system?
Why are crisis payment schemes available in other areas before they are in East Sussex?
Different councils have different systems in place to deliver crisis payments. In East Sussex, HSF payments were mainly through external providers, which means it was necessary to re-contract this work before the new scheme can operate. In other areas, councils may have delivered crisis payments internally, which means they may be able to update and operate a new crisis payments system more quickly. Working with external VCSE partners is preferable in East Sussex as they are well established local organisations that deliver services that are already known to and trusted by East Sussex residents.
Are housing payments available?
Eligible households who currently receive Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs), will be able to make applications for CRF housing payments via the the link further up this page, and there will be no break in service delivery in this transition.
I'm worried about money. Where can I get help?
Please see the links below to access further financial support.
Have you checked that you are receiving all the financial support that you are entitled to? Benefits calculators - GOV.UK
Need advice on debt or benefits? Phone the welfare benefits helpline for free, confidential advice on 0333 344 0681 (calls cost no more than the national rate)
