What is the Crisis and Resilience Fund?
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is designed to offer targeted help to people facing sudden financial difficulties.
Our support from the CRF is provided in two ways:
- Crisis payments to help people experiencing an unexpected financial shock, such as a sudden loss of income or an essential cost, that they cannot afford. Delivered through a cash-first approach to ensure dignity and choice, with flexibility for vouchers or goods-in-kind where appropriate, and
- Wraparound financial resilience support to prevent repeat crises, such as income maximisation. debt advice, budgeting support, and employment support.
The CRF is being co-produced and delivered by a range of partner organisations across Somerset – the Crisis & Resilience Fund Alliance.
Crisis & Resilience Fund Alliance
We’re working in partnership to ensure everyone in Somerset has access to the right support at the right time, to build resilient communities.
Core alliance partners
Associate alliance partners
Heating oil help
If you are struggling with the cost of oil due to recent price increases we may be able to help. Heating oil help is available for low-income households who rely on oil and are at risk of running out.
Eligibility criteria:
- live full time in Somerset
- use heating oil as your main way of heating your home
- have less than 300 litres in your tank
- are at imminent risk of being unable to heat your home or access hot water
- are in receipt of universal credit or pension credit or are not in receipt of any benefits but can show you cannot afford the minimum order required for a delivery
- have limited access to savings.
You’ll be asked to provide evidence to show your eligibility – see the crisis payment application form for full details or discuss this with an adviser by calling 0808 278 7842 and select option 3.
Housing payments
If you are getting the housing element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit for your current home, a CRF housing payment help may be available towards:
- a rent shortfall
- one-off costs like rent deposits,
- rent in advance
- removal costs.
This part of the Crisis & Resilience Fund is delivered by Somerset Council. Visit the discretionary award page on their website for more information.
Crisis payments
Crisis payments may be available to offer financial support for families and residents experiencing a financial shock or sudden hardship.
You may be eligible for a crisis payment if you:
- Live full time in Somerset (other areas operate their own schemes).
- Are facing financial hardship: experiencing a crisis, such as inability to pay for essentials (e.g. food or energy top-up) or have a sudden loss of income.
- Have an immediate need.
- Have an adult in the household that is currently entitled to a means tested benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), or Housing Benefit or have a low household income after paying essential living costs.
- Can show the household does not have sufficient resources to resolve the immediate crisis without missing out on essentials, incurring unmanageable debt, or exacerbating financial harm.
- Have limited access to savings.
The Crisis & Resilience Fund is brand new and being delivered by the CRF Alliance and Somerset Council.
This is a collaborative framework between the Alliance to deliver targeted support.
Our aim is to strengthen community resilience and ensure equitable access to support vulnerable residents with their wellbeing and financial resilience.
Each organisation will deliver their current services whilst the alliance meets to finalise the ‘resilience’ aspect of the CRF in Somerset, which is being co-produced, with input from people with lived experience. We’ll update soon.
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