Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment

The Housing Payment (HP) element of the Crisis and Resilience Fund started on 1 April 2026 and replaced Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Housing Payments provide financial help with rent or housing costs.

Who can claim

You can claim if:

you pay rent
you already get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit
you are struggling to pay your rent even with Housing Benefit and Universal Credit

We can award a Housing Payment if:

there is a shortfall (difference) between your rent and the amount of your Housing Benefit award or housing element of Universal Credit
Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit have been reduced due to the Benefit Cap
households have a spare room in the house they are renting (often referred to as the 'bedroom tax')
you are under 35, rent a one-bedroom property and your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element is restricted to a shared room rate

We may also be able to award a Housing Payment for the following (dependant on funding and policy):

Council Tax
ineligible service charges included in the rent, for example, water rates, heating or meals
increases to rent to cover rent arrears which are not eligible for Housing Benefit
reduction in any benefits due to a recovery of an overpayment