Crisis payment
We are currently managing a very high volume of applications, which may result in extended processing times. Please do not contact us unless you have been specifically asked to or you need to provide further information. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
To qualify for crisis support, you must be facing an urgent situation that means you cannot meet your immediate essential needs without help.
This is an interim scheme while the full Crisis and Resilience Fund support offer is being developed. At the moment, support will usually be provided through vouchers for food and fuel. The full scheme, which may include a wider range of support, will be available soon.
Who is eligible
You may be able to apply if you are facing an immediate financial crisis caused by an unexpected event or emergency, such as:
- a sudden loss of income
- an unexpected essential expense that you cannot afford
- an emergency such as fire, flood, bereavement, domestic abuse or homelessness
- circumstances that place your health, safety, or wellbeing at immediate risk.
To be eligible for crisis support, you must be:
- aged 16 or over
- a permanent Kent resident, paying council tax to one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley, or Bromley)
- in receipt of means tested benefits or, if you are not in receipt of means tested benefits, you have a household income of £33,000 or less per year
- experiencing an urgent need due to an emergency, disaster, unforeseen situation or a pressing need significantly beyond normal low income pressures
- able to demonstrate your household budgets are normally managed effectively.
Each application is looked at individually and you will need to provide evidence of the crisis and explain why you need support straight away. This will include:
- information about your income
- information about your household circumstances
- bank statements
- evidence of the event or emergency that has caused the crisis.
Circumstances that do not meet the threshold for support include:
- general household bills, living costs or other expected day-to-day expenses
- managing ongoing financial pressures that have not been caused by a recent unexpected event or emergency
- planned or foreseeable costs that could reasonably have been budgeted for
- repaying debts, loans, overdrafts, credit cards, or other existing financial commitments
- replacing income where there has been no sudden or unforeseen change in circumstances
- costs associated with leisure activities, non-essential purchases, or lifestyle choices.
Support is limited and is meant to help with urgent short-term needs. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award.
If you do not meet the above criteria for crisis support, check our main Crisis and Resilience Fund page to find out what other support is available to you.