Help for Households
Crisis and Resilience Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) provides short‑term financial help and longer‑term support if you’re on a low income and facing sudden financial difficulty. It’s funded by the government.
The fund runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. It replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
We follow a ‘no wrong door’ approach. You'll be guided to the right help even if you contact a different service first.
Types of support
What the fund can help with
The fund can provide residents of the Ribble Valley:
- fast, flexible help if you’re on a low income and you are facing immediate financial hardship
- advice and support to help you manage financial shock and cope better in the future
- connections to local services for help with income, debt, housing and wellbeing
Support is based on your situation at the time you apply. The fund is not guaranteed and does not replace benefits such as Universal Credit.
What we mean by financial shock
A financial shock is when something unexpected makes it hard to pay for essential living costs.
This could include:
- a sudden loss of income or reduced working hours
- an unexpected essential bill or expense
- a delay or change in benefit payments
- illness, caring responsibilities or a family emergency
Our approach
As well as emergency help, the CRF aims to support you to:
- build financial stability
- improve budgeting and money management skills
- increase household income where possible
- reduce repeat crisis situations
- build confidence and independence
If you apply, we may also connect you to services that offer longer‑term support.
The four parts of the fund
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Crisis payments |
Short‑term emergency financial support for people in immediate financial difficulty. This is to help stabilise your situation quickly. Crisis is defined as:
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Housing payments |
Financial support for households struggling to meet their housing costs. This is to help prevent homelessness or housing instability. To be eligible, you must be entitled to housing benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support – Ribble Valley Borough Council
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Resilience services |
Advice and support to help:
This may include help with:
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Community coordination |
We're working with voluntary and community organisations across Ribble Valley. This is to make it easier to find and access help and supports our ‘no wrong door’ approach. |
Support for heating oil households
For vulnerable low-income households who are facing immediate financial hardship because of significant increases in energy costs, such as a large increase in heating oil prices, funding is available.
The support available reflects the difference between the previous cost of the oil and the new cost and will be available for:
Low-income households in receipt of means-tested benefits, or with a total gross household income of less than £31,000, and with vulnerable members, such as the over-65s, under-fives and pregnant women, those with cardiovascular and respiratory problems, a disability or mental health condition
PLEASE NOTE: The volume of heating oil to be purchased should match that amount detailed on your household’s previous bill.
Before you start your application
You can apply from 1 April 2026.
When you apply, you will need:
- your personal details, including your National Insurance number
- evidence of your situation, including your recent bank statement(s).
We look at each application on its own. If we give support, we expect you to work with any support we offer to help improve your long‑term financial situation.
Crisis and Resilience Fund application
Support for heating oil application
Help to apply
If you need help getting online, visit your local library for general support - Find a library - Lancashire County Council
If you can’t apply online, please email CRF@ribblevalley.gov.uk, phone us on 01200 425111 or visit the council offices.
