Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) has been made available to local authorities in England to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience.
Financial support is discretionary, short term and on a temporary basis and should not be seen as a permanent solution.
Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Crisis Payments and Move in Packs
Payments are intended to alleviate hardship and support those who have experienced a financial shock. A financial shock is a sudden, unexpected expense or drop in income.
Payments can also be awarded to prevent individuals from entering crisis. Providing timely support so that people can manage pressures, maintain control and avoid being pushed into crisis or prevent crises from escalating.
Crisis Payments can be awarded for issues relating to (but not exclusively): Food, energy costs and utility bills, clothing, essential furniture or appliances and transport costs.
Move in Packs can be awarded to residents moving into an unfurnished property and needing help with furniture and appliances.
Most awards will be granted at a set rate (a flat rate award) depending on the type of application.
A cash-first approach is adopted for Crisis Payments. Cash first does not mean cash-only. Other provisions, such as vouchers or goods in-kind may also be considered depending on the needs of the household. This is flexible and tailored to the individual or household.
Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments
This scheme replaces Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). CRF Housing Payments provide extra financial support to meet your housing costs. If you are already receiving Housing Benefit, or the Housing Element of Universal Credit and this does not cover your rent, and you are in financial hardship, you can apply.
A Housing Payment can also be awarded for rent in advance, a deposit and/or moving costs to move to more affordable accommodation. This is to help prevent homelessness but will be subject to affordability checks.
Discretionary Council Tax Relief (DCTR)
Funded by the Local Authority.
The purpose of the scheme is to support residents who are liable to pay Council Tax and are experiencing financial hardship. In this circumstance, the Council may exercise its power to grant a reduction in the amount of Council Tax paid through a Discretionary Council Tax Relief award.
Any award will be applied directly to the Council Tax account to reduce the outstanding balance.
You must have a Council Tax Liability with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham to claim Discretionary Council Tax Relief.
Applying for Discretionary Financial Support – Evidence must be submitted with your application
All applications for assistance through these schemes will require basic evidence to be uploaded with the application. An evidence checklist will advise all applicants what evidence is required to be uploaded with the application. Examples of evidence required such as two months' current bank statements, from all accounts held, regardless of balance, evidence of utility or rent arrears or moving costs.
All applicants must ensure they have the required evidence available to be uploaded when starting this application. You will be prompted to upload evidence on page 3 of this application form and must do so, depending on what you are applying for.
We recommend that you use the ‘save draft’ button as you progress through the application. Using this function will save your details if you must leave the session and return to the form later.
Applications will not be able to be submitted without uploading evidence in support of your application.
Discretionary financial support schemes policy 2026-27 (PDF, 448.71 KB)
