Crisis and Resilience Fund - Housing Payment

You may be entitled to extra financial help if you get Housing Benefit or the housing cost element of Universal Credit, and the amount does not meet all your housing costs.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund has a limited amount of money that we can spend each year to help people who need extra help with these housing costs. This extra help is called a Housing Payment.

You should make an application as soon as possible.

A Housing Payment can also cover housing costs including:

• removal costs
• rent deposits or rent in advance

Removal costs

You may be eligible for support if:

• you have signed up for a tenancy with a rent you can afford but need help with moving expenses
• you have costs associated with downsizing

To be considered for help, you need to provide us with three quotes from van hire or removal companies. If you qualify, we will cover the costs of van hire or removal directly with the company that is used.

Rent in advance

You may qualify for assistance if:

• you have signed up for a tenancy with a rent you can afford but you need help with rent in advance

To be considered for assistance, you must:

• be receiving Housing Benefit or the housing cost element of Universal Credit
• have found a property to rent, and the landlord or agent has agreed that you can rent it

Please send us a letter from the new landlord. This should give details of the address of the property, the amount of rent due and the amount of rent in advance.

Even if you can’t access a Housing Payment - because you are not entitled to a qualifying benefit, or you are an owner occupier - you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Crisis and resilience fund.

Our telephone opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm: 0345 8 504 504.