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Apply for a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment

Discretionary Housing Payments ended on Tuesday 31 March. This has been replaced by the Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments. 

A Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment is extra help for people struggling to cover their rent or other housing costs. It is:

  • temporary and only paid for a short time
  • not a benefit 
  • given at our discretion
  • paid on top of your Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit 

We have limited amount of money each year to support those who need extra financial support. We'll prioritise those in greatest need. 

 

Who can apply

You can apply if you:

  • live in Redbridge
  • have been placed in temporary accommodation by us
  • are legally responsible or required to pay rent for a property
  • entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit
  • need extra support with your rent

You can apply for Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment for help with:

  • a rent shortfall
  • rent deposits
  • rent in advance if you need to move home

You cannot apply for a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment for help with: 

  • council tax 
  • mortgage costs
  • gas, electric, water, meals, fuel charges included in your rent 
  • other utility bills
  • personal debts
  • daily living expenses
  • increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears 
  • reduced income caused by sanctions or reductions 
  • a shortfall in your housing benefit due to repaying overpaid housing benefit 
  • extra payments you are making to clear rent arrears 

You'll not be eligible if you're the owner of the residential property and without benefit entitlement.  

You’ll need to tell us why you need extra help with your housing costs.

See Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment guide 2026-27 (PDF 1.04KB)

 

How to apply

You’ll need:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction reference number (if you have one)
  • a copy of your Universal Credit award letter (if you get Universal Credit)
  • details of your income and benefits
  • details of your expenses
  • details of any rent arrears
  • details of any debts you have and the repayment amounts
  • details of anyone who lives with you, including their income
  • your bank details
  • the landlord's bank details if you want any this paid to your landlord
  • If you’re applying for a rent deposit or rent in advance, the new landlords bank details, evidence they’re a member of a Government approved tenancy deposit scheme and details of the new property

Make sure you have all the information you need before you start. You can add your documents when you apply.

You can get someone to complete the form on your behalf if they have your consent.

Apply for a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment

 

If you were unable to upload your evidence

You can do this using our online portal. This should be provided as soon as possible.

You'll need your National Insurance number and Benefits claim reference if you have one, or the reference generated when you completed the application. 

Upload evidence to support your application

You have one month to provide the evidence requested, so that your claim can be processed. We'll not send you a reminder.  

 

What happens next

We’ll look at your application and decide if we’re going to give you a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment.

If we need any more information, we’ll let you know.

There is no set amount for a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment. We’ll decide:

  • whether to give you a Crisis and Resilience Housing Payment
  • how much you'll be paid
  • how long you'll receive the payment

The amount you get could cover all or part of the shortfall in your rent arrears and certain tenancy costs.

We’ll write to you as soon as possible with our decision.

 

If you disagree with the decision

There is no formal right of appeal.

You can ask us to look at the decision again. You must do this within one month of being notified of the decision. You’ll need to explain why you disagree. 

A different officer will look at your application again. They will write to you with their decision. 

Write to us at:

Revenues, Benefits and Transactional Centre
The Benefits Service
Lynton House
255 - 259 High Road
Ilford Essex
IG1 1NN

If you're still dissatisfied, you may contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman or seek a judicial review. You'll need to do this directly with the relevant body.

 

Other help you can get