Chancellor Rachel Reeves has officially announced a major new government initiative designed to help families facing financial pressure. The existing Household Support Fund (HSF) will be replaced by a new, broader Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) from April 2026.
What is the New Crisis and Resilience Fund?
The new fund marks a significant shift in how emergency support is delivered. Unlike some previous schemes, the CRF will be open to applications from any household, not solely those claiming benefits. This means eligibility will not be automatically barred based on your current benefit status.
However, the government has stated that priority for support will be given to those in the most severe financial hardship. To be accepted, applicants will typically need to demonstrate they are in a financial crisis, such as struggling to afford basic essentials like food, energy, or other vital costs.
How Will the Support Be Delivered?
In a system similar to the old HSF, cash will be allocated to local councils across England. It will then be the responsibility of each local authority to distribute the funds to residents in their area who apply and qualify for help.
This will likely involve direct cash payments to successful applicants. For context, under the previous scheme, Birmingham City Council provided grants of £200 to those deemed eligible. Details on exact payment amounts and the application process for the new CRF will be published by individual councils on their websites closer to the launch date.
Charity Welcomes "Lifeline" Funding
The announcement has been warmly received by anti-poverty charities. The Trussell Trust, which operates a nationwide network of food banks, issued a statement praising the move.
They called the commitment to multi-year funding "extremely welcome," describing it as "the kind of investment that can provide a lifeline to people" and help reduce the need for emergency food parcels in a crisis. The charity added that while the fund cannot solve deep-rooted issues with the social security system, it represents a major opportunity to reset local crisis support in England.
Households are advised to monitor their local council's official website from April 2026 onwards for specific instructions on how to apply for support from the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
