Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a new scheme funded by the UK government.

In Kent, it will be used to help residents who are:

• struggling with money
• dealing with a sudden change in their life.

We understand that hard times can happen to anyone. The support is here to help you get through a crisis with care and understanding, and to focus on what matters most to you.

The CRF is meant to offer short-term help, including support to help you feel more stable in the future with your money. This includes early advice and working with local organisations, to help you get the right help at the right time and reduce the risk of future worries.

What we will offer

• Crisis payments (where appropriate) to help with essential costs if you face a serious financial shock. This could include redundancy, bereavement, domestic abuse, or fire or flood damage to your property.
• Advice and practical help to enable you maximise your income, manage bills, and plan ahead. This may include money and debt advice, budgeting support, help to access food, employment support, and help to keep a tenancy.
• Working together with other services across Kent to provide coordinated support. We will work with you to connect you to the most appropriate local organisations and services.
• Housing payments from your local council, if you need extra help to keep your home.
• Heating oil payment (where available) if you use heating oil and the cost of topping up has placed you in crisis. Find out how to apply for support to pay for heating oil.

If you already get Discretionary Housing Payments from your local district or borough council, there will be no break in that support.

When support will be available

Services will launch in stages across Kent. We expect the main crisis support scheme to be available from summer 2026. This page will be updated with full details, including how to apply, as soon as services are live.

These timings are an estimate and may change.

Support available now

Schemes to help pay for heating oil are open. Find out how to apply for support to pay for heating oil.

Other places to get help

Visit our cost of living support pages to:

• check if you are eligible for any benefits
• get advice about how to reduce energy use and who to contact for help paying bills
• use our help and support finder to find help available with food, Council Tax, clothing, childcare and much more.

Families eligible for free school meals can get free activities and food through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme during school holidays.

Visit the government's cost of living hub for further support and information.