Immediate financial help

Changes to Housing Payments

From 1 April 2026, Discretionary Housing Payments will be renamed to Housing Payments to follow upcoming guidance changes made by the Department for Works of Pensions regarding crisis payments. This will have no effect on anyone currently receiving or wishing to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. If there are any changes to the application process, this page will be updated in due course.

Applications for assistance, connected to the Crisis Resilience Fund, can be made via -

  • Crisis Payments
  • Resilience Grants

Crisis Payments

Crisis Payments (CPs) are part of our local assistance scheme. CPs are for applicants who are unable to meet their immediate short term needs which include -

  • a crisis in relation to some expenses
  • a consequence of a disaster
  • furniture or furnishings
  • minor repairs and redecoration
  • white goods
  • certain travel expenses
  • clothing

Resilience Grants

Resilience Grants (RGs) are part of the local assistance scheme. RGs are to help vulnerable applicants live independently in the community. They can provide financial assistance for items such as -

Housing Payment

Housing Payment is for people who need extra help with their rent. This could be when certain benefits do not meet the full value of their rent or to secure a tenancy. Benefits include -

  • Housing Benefits
  • the housing cost element of Universal Credit

You may be able to get help towards these payments if -

  • you are suffering severe financial hardship as a result
  • your tenancy is at risk

Free school meals

You may be able to claim free school meals for primary and secondary schools.