Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is funded by the UK Government. It is designed to:

help people who are struggling with money
help people who are facing a financial crisis, and
support residents to become more financially stable.

What the CRF covers

In East Sussex, we are using the CRF to invest in these services:

Crisis payment service
One-off support for low-income households facing a financial shock.
Money and benefits advice
Advice for residents on money-related issues. There is also free, confidential advice and information about benefits from the Welfare benefits helpline.
Holiday activities and food programme
More holiday clubs during the school holidays for families with children eligible for Free School Meals through Holiday food and fun.
Housing payments
Help for low-income households struggling to afford housing costs.
Help with the costs of heating oil
Eligible residents can apply for help with the cost of heating oil.
Community food support - East Sussex 1Space
Support and advice through community food providers.

Get help in other formats or languages

If you would like help to understand this information, for example, if you would like to request it in an alternative format (including braille, large print and easy read) or language, please contact ASCEqualityTeam@eastsussex.gov.uk

Cost of living information in other languages

Crisis payment service

We expect our new crisis payment service to start in the last week of September 2026.

We will add more details and a link to the application form as soon as it is available.

Who can apply

The crisis payment service will provide short-term, one-off support to residents who:

are on a low income,
have experienced an unexpected financial shock or crisis,
need help with essential living costs, and
cannot meet the immediate need through their own resources or other available support.

A financial shock could include a sudden loss of income, an unexpected essential expense, a relationship breakdown, an emergency or another unforeseen situation that leaves someone unable to pay for essential living costs.

Each application will be considered individually. Meeting the general criteria does not automatically mean that you can get a payment.

Housing payments

If you receive housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, but still have to pay some of your rent, you may be able to receive an additional housing payment if you’re finding it difficult to cover housing costs.

These payments are managed by district and borough councils.