The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)

Debt and money advice

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)

The Crisis and Resilience Fund helps people on low incomes who face a sudden money problem. It also supports work that helps communities stay strong and secure.
The fund runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. Councils must deliver it in line with national rules.

Please read the information on this page before applying.

The fund has four parts:

  1. Crisis Payments for emergency money help
  2. Housing Payments to help with housing costs
  3. Resilience Services to advice and support to build long‑term money skills
  4. Community Coordination to work to link local support services

We’re now designing our local scheme to make sure it meets the needs of Newcastle residents.

Free school meals

Children who get free school meals will receive food vouchers for:

  • Easter school holidays 2026
  • May half term
  • Summer school holidays

Crisis Payment scheme

Who can get help

You may get a Crisis Payment if:

  • you are a householder
  • you live in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne
  • you’re 16 or over
  • you don’t have enough money for an essential item or service due to a crisis
  • you have no other way to stop serious harm or risk to you or a family member

What you can get

You can get quick money help for urgent needs, such as:

  • food and energy
  • essential furniture or appliances

Most people will get a cash‑first payment. This means you’ll get money so you can choose what you need.

If you need important furniture or household items (like a bed, fridge, or cooker), we cannot give you money to buy them before you get them. You must buy the item first and then show us your receipt as proof of purchase.

If buying the item has left you with very little money, we may be able to help. We can only give awards for essential items.

You can get up to 3 awards in a 12-month period. The 12 months starts from the date you receive your first award.

If someone has stolen something from you or a crime has caused you to lose money, you must report it to the police. We will need your crime reference number so we can check the details with them.

Who can apply

You can only ask for help from this fund if your family suddenly gets less money, stops getting money (not because of a Universal Credit sanction), or must pay for something unexpected.

You can:


You will need 

  • an email address and / or mobile telephone
  • provide 2 months bank statements
  • evidence to support your claim

Applications will be available from 7 April 2026

What to expect

We’ll make a decision as soon as we can.

If approved, you’ll get a cash voucher within 48 hours of sending your evidence (where possible). You can cash this at the Post Office.

If we refuse your application, we’ll tell you why and you can ask us to look at it again.

We may offer you support from money, housing or wellbeing services.

You may not get another Crisis Payment if you already received one in the last 12 months.

What the fund is not for

The fund is not:

  • a guaranteed payment for everyone
  • a replacement for benefits like Universal Credit
  • long‑term income support
  • a way to clear or repay debts
  • we do not award a crisis payment for lost money. 
  • we do not award a crisis payment if you’re struggling with the cost of living and your benefits are all in payment. 
  • we do not award a crisis payment for sanctions to benefits.

How to apply

Details on how to apply will be available soon.

Housing Payments

Housing Payments help people who get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and cannot meet their housing costs. 

They may cover:

  • rent shortfalls
  • removal costs

Housing Payments replace Discretionary Housing Payments from 1 April 2026. You can apply for a Housing Payment here.

Resilience and Community Cohesion

More details about these parts of the scheme will be available soon.

If you need support now, you can find free, confidential and impartial advice about debt, money, energy and utility costs on our website.

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