Crisis Resilience Fund: A New Approach to Preventing Financial Hardship

• From 2021 to March this year, the Household Support Fund (HSF) provided financial assistance to people facing immediate hardship, helping households with essentials such as food, energy costs and other urgent living expenses. Now that the Household Support Fund has come to an end, the government has introduced a new programme that takes a different approach to supporting people through financial difficulties.

• The Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF), launched in England from April 2026, focusing on building the resilience, skills and support networks that can help recover from and prevent crises.

  
  

  Moving from Crisis Response to Crisis Prevention

  
  

  The Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF) replaces the Household Support Fund and marks a significant shift in how support is delivered to households experiencing financial hardship. While emergency help remains available for people facing a financial crisis, the CRF has been designed to go further by helping people build financial resilience, improve their circumstances, and reduce the likelihood of future crises.  

  
  

  As part of CRF provision locally, LDCA will be delivering accessible services throughout Lewes District that help people increase their income, maximise their budgets, manage debt, access appropriate benefits, and strengthen their ability to cope with financial shocks.

  
  

  Why Early Advice Matters

  
  

  Financial difficulties are often triggered by unexpected life events such as job loss, illness, bereavement, relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, rising household costs, or a sudden emergency expense. Without timely support, these challenges can quickly escalate into debt, rent arrears, housing insecurity, poor mental wellbeing, and wider social problems.

  
  

  The CRF recognises that providing help at the earliest opportunity can prevent issues from becoming more severe and more costly to resolve. By connecting people with advice and support before they reach crisis point, the fund aims to help households regain stability, improve their financial position, and make informed decisions about their future.

  
  

  What Support will LDCA provide?

  
  

  As part of the CRF's focus on resilience, advice services can help people to:

  
  

• Maximise income by checking benefit entitlement, supporting claims, and identifying additional financial support available.

• Improve budgeting and financial capability, helping households make their money go further and manage changing circumstances.

• Address problem debt through advice, negotiation, and sustainable repayment solutions.

• Reduce household expenditure through energy advice, access to grants, and support with essential bills.

• Prevent homelessness and housing instability by helping residents understand their options and access housing-related support.

• Increase long-term financial resilience through support with employment, savings habits, affordable credit options, and planning for future financial shocks.

  
  

  Emergency Help When It Is Needed

  
  

  The CRF continues to provide support for households facing immediate financial crisis, including help with essential living costs and other urgent needs. However, unlike the Household Support Fund, emergency assistance is intended to sit alongside advice and practical support that addresses the underlying causes of hardship.

  
  

  Building Stronger, More Resilient Communities

  
  

  The overall aim of the Crisis Resilience Fund is to help people move beyond immediate crisis and towards greater financial security. By combining emergency assistance with high-quality advice, guidance and early intervention, the fund seeks to reduce hardship, strengthen household resilience, and support people to find sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.

  
  

  For many households, the right advice at the right time can make all the difference—not just helping them get through a difficult period, but helping them avoid future crises.

  
  

  At Lewes District Citizens Advice, we welcome the opportunity to support the aims of the Crisis Resilience Fund by increasing the capacity of our existing advice services and expanding accessible delivery options. Investment through the fund enables us to reach more residents through face-to-face and drop-in provision, helping ensure that people can access timely advice, practical support, and guidance before problems escalate into crisis.

  
  

  This enhanced service will help local people build financial resilience, maximise their income, address the root causes of hardship, and improve their long-term wellbeing.

  
  

  If you are worried about your finances or have experienced a change in circumstances, seeking advice early could make all the difference. We're here to help.