The Crisis and Resilience Fund provides financial support to households struggling with the cost of essentials. It is designed to help people on low incomes who are facing a financial crisis, while also supporting longer-term stability.
What we can help with
You may be able to get support if you are struggling to afford essentials, such as:
- food
- energy or heating oil
- household essentials
- other urgent needs
Support is provided through a Post Office voucher scheme as quickly as possible. For those in urgent need, we aim to issue payments within 48 hours of receiving a completed application. This includes any required information or evidence. This approach gives you flexibility to buy what you need most.
Extra support is available for households struggling with the cost of heating oil, particularly in rural areas.
Funding is limited. It is available until 31 March 2027, or until it has been fully allocated.
Who can apply
You may be eligible if you are experiencing financial hardship, for example:
- you are unable to afford essentials
- you have little or no income or savings
- you have had a sudden change in circumstances
We look at each application to understand your situation and what support would be best.
How we assess applications
We take a person-centred and trauma-informed approach. This means we look at your overall circumstances, not just the immediate problem.
If needed, we can also help connect you to other support services to provide longer-term support. For example, we may recommend a financial assessment with Citizens Advice.
How to apply
You can apply online using our application form.
If you are working with a professional (such as a support worker), they may be able to refer you for more support.
We may ask for some information to support your application, such as:
- proof of your identity and address
- details about your household
- information about your income and outgoings
- evidence of your costs (for example, a heating oil quote)
Contact us
If you need help with an application, or if you have any questions, please contact us.
Customer Services Team
Telephone: 0300 373 3300 (please choose option 2, then option 2, then option 1 for the Crisis and Resilience Fund)
Calls from a landline will cost up to 16p per minute. If you’re calling from a mobile, it can cost anywhere from 3p to 65p per minute. Please check with your network provider for call charges to this number.
Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm and Friday 9am to 2:30pm.
Beware of scams
We don't need your bank details and never ask for them over the telephone.
If you get calls from people asking for your bank details and claiming to be us, be careful and:
- report the call to police on the Action Fraud website
- contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline for advice if you need it on 0808 223 1133
- alert your bank, if you have given out your bank details