The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) provides support to Staffordshire residents experiencing financial hardship or an unexpected crisis.
The fund includes emergency financial support, housing-related assistance and services designed to help people build longer-term financial resilience.
Who is eligible
The Crisis and Resilience Fund is available to Staffordshire residents experiencing financial hardship, financial crisis or circumstances that place them at risk of hardship.
Different elements of the fund have different eligibility criteria and assessment requirements.
Eligibility for Housing Payments and Crisis Payments will be assessed based on individual circumstances and supporting evidence.
Awards are not automatic and are subject to available funding and scheme rules.
Housing Payments
Housing Payments are administered and assessed by our Benefits Service and form part of the wider Staffordshire Crisis and Resilience Fund.
They provide additional financial assistance towards housing costs where a household is experiencing hardship and struggling to maintain their tenancy. Housing Payments replaced Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) from April 2026.
Housing Payments can be applied for directly through the Benefits Service and do not require a professional referral.
As part of our assessment, we will consider your wider financial circumstances and whether additional support may be available through other strands of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Our Benefits Service is an approved professional referrer to the Staffordshire Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Where a customer is receiving Discretionary Housing Support through a Housing Payment, and wider financial hardship is identified, we may invite them to apply for additional Crisis and Resilience Fund support and act as their professional referrer where appropriate.
Before making a referral, we must be satisfied that:
- other available sources of support have been explored
- the applicant is willing to engage with appropriate support, advice or resilience services
- any previous support offered has been reasonably engaged with
- the applicant understands that Crisis Payments are not guaranteed and are subject to assessment by Staffordshire County Council
- the applicant is willing and able to provide the evidence required to support an application
Contact the Benefits Service
Telephone: 01785 619478
Benefit Service - Online Forms
Crisis Payments
Crisis Payments provide short-term emergency financial support for essential items such as:
- food
- gas, electricity and water
- emergency travel costs
Crisis Payments are administered by Staffordshire County Council and can only be applied for through an approved professional referrer.
Approved professional referrers may include:
- Stafford Borough Council
- Staffordshire County Council social workers and support workers
- Housing Options teams
- registered social landlords and housing providers
- Citizens Advice
- NHS and mental health services
- Family Hub partners
- schools, colleges and education providers
- police
- Support Staffordshire members
- other support organisations already working with individuals and families
If you are already receiving support from an organisation, you should normally approach that organisation to discuss whether a referral may be appropriate.
They will be best placed to assess your circumstances and make an application on your behalf if eligible.
If you are not working with a professional
If you think you may be eligible for a Crisis Payment but are not supported by a professional organisation, you can still get help and advice from Financial Wellbeing Coaches.
To access support from a Financial Wellbeing Coach, please complete the sign up form (app.plinth.org.uk).
Find out more at Staffordshire County Council Crisis Payments (staffordshire.gov.uk).
Resilience Services
Resilience Services help people:
- manage their money
- become more financially stable
- stay independent
These services are provided by local councils and partner organisations and are designed to help address the causes of financial hardship and reduce the need for future crisis support.
Find out more at Staffordshire County Council Resilience Services (staffordshire.gov.uk).
Community Coordination
Community Coordination strengthens local support networks by bringing together voluntary, community and statutory organisations to support residents and improve access to help and advice.
Find out more at Staffordshire County Council Community Coordination (staffordshire.gov.uk).
Further information
For full details of the Crisis and Resilience Fund, eligibility criteria and available support, please see Staffordshire County Council Crisis and Resilience Fund (staffordshire.gov.uk).
Support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund is subject to eligibility criteria, assessment and the provision of supporting evidence.
Awards are not guaranteed.
Alternative Formats
We are committed to making information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund accessible to everyone.
- large print
- easy read
- accessible PDF
- audio recording
- braille
Please contact the relevant service and we will work with you to provide information in a suitable format wherever possible.
Funded by the UK Government
The Crisis and Resilience Fund is funded by the UK Government and delivered locally by Staffordshire County Council, district and borough councils, and partner organisations. Funding is administered in accordance with the requirements of the UK Government.
Support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund is subject to eligibility criteria, assessment and the provision of supporting evidence. Awards are not guaranteed.