Crisis and Resilience Fund

If you are struggling to afford everyday essentials, you may be able to get help from the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

What the fund is for 

The fund can help if you are having serious problems with money and cannot afford basic living costs. 

We are using the fund to: 

• help if you are in a financial crisis
• give you support for a short time  
• create more services that can help you for longer

Who can apply

You can only apply if: 

• you live in Islington
• you are in financial crisis  

Council services and voluntary or community sector organisations that are supporting you can refer you to this fund. 

What help you can get  

Crisis payments 

One payment for urgent help to pay for essentials - food, electricity and clothing. 

Housing payments 

Help with housing costs like: 

• rent, if your benefits do not cover your rent because of bedroom tax, Benefit Cap or Local Housing Allowance
• rent deposits
• removal or moving costs  

Support for the future

We may offer you support to help improve your finances, such as: 

• advice about your debt
• help to claim benefits 
• help to improve your skills and find work  
• advice on energy costs 

Applying for a crisis payment 

You can apply for a crisis payment if you: 

• are on a low income - usually this means you already get or can get benefits based on your income - and do not have enough savings or other money to meet your daily needs 
• have an unexpected problem with money (a 'financial shock') in the last 8 weeks 

A 'financial shock' could include: 

• losing your job or getting less than you were in benefits
• leaving your home because of domestic abuse and needing financial help straight away
• a flood, fire or other disaster that has caused lots of damage to property or belongings or caused to lose your home or belongings 
• a death or accident in the family
• a health emergency or mental health crisis
• needing to repair or replace an essential item, like a bed or cooker
• moving into a new property or temporary accommodation and needing help with the costs of removals, a deposit, or rent that needs to be paid before you move in

Applying for a housing payment 

You can apply for a housing payment if you: 

• get Housing Benefit or the housing part of Universal Credit 
• are finding it hard to pay your rent because of the bedroom tax, Benefit Cap or Local Housing Allowance   
• need help with a rent deposit or removal costs 

How to apply 

We will ask you some questions to see if you qualify. We then decide if you can get the payment you have applied for. We cannot promise that you will get one just because of your situation.

To apply for a crisis payment or housing payment, use the best option for you.

Ask your housing provider

• If you rent from the council, contact your income officer.
• If you rent from a housing association, contact them.

If you rent privately, call us on 020 7527 6371.

Get a referral from council and local services

You can get a referral from council services or local partner organisations. Check the list on this page and contact them for help to apply. 

Talk to us

• Phone: 020 7527 8222
• Email: heretohelp@islington.gov.uk 
• Visit us at an Access Islington Hub 

What you need to apply

Having this information with you will make it easier and quicker to apply. It could also help speed up our decision.

• National Insurance Number
• Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit reference number
• Details of any benefits you are getting, such as your Universal Credit statement
• Recent bank statement, if you want the money paid into a bank account
• Proof of your money problems, such as:
  • incident number
  • letter from your former employer
  • benefit letter
  • GP or NHS health record
  • statement from your support worker
  • police crime reference
  • photos or insurer report for a disaster

How you will get your payment

If your application is approved, we will try to pay you as quickly as we can. 

When you apply, we will ask you how you would like to get paid. You can choose to get paid: 

• into your bank account 
• by letter that you can cash at the Post Office 

If you are applying for household items or removals, we can buy or book them for you instead of giving you money to do it yourself.  

More support

When you apply, we ask if there is any other support you would like. We may also contact you to see if there is any other support you need. This could include a check to make sure you are claiming all the benefits support you can get. 

If you do not get a payment, you can still get help with debt, benefits and employment. We or a partner will contact you, or you can contact us by phone, email or in person. 

Applying more than once

In most cases, you will only get one payment in 12 months.

In rare cases, you may get a second payment. If this happens, we will expect you to find other support to improve your finances and avoid future crises. 

About the Crisis and Resilience Fund 

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is funded by the UK government, Islington Council and our partners. It brings together different support and funding schemes, like the Resident Support Scheme, into one fund with one application form, so it is easier to apply for help.

How are we using our Crisis and Resilience Fund

Islington has received £4.1 million from the Crisis and Resilience Fund for April 2026 to March 2027.

We are using £2 million of this for payments: 

• £1.2 million for crisis payments
• £800,000 for housing payments

We are using £1.5 million for services to help residents out of crisis. This includes: 

• extra support to claim benefits
• debt advice in community centres
• employment support in the community
• help with budgeting skills and digital skills
• our Holiday and Food Activities Fund programme to create more places for children to get free or affordable activities with food during school holidays
• projects to help with the cost of living and make it easier to get healthy and affordable food and other support

We are using £600,000 to help improve access to support across Islington. This includes funding for:

• the Poverty Truth Commission, where we will work with people who have lived in poverty to change policies and services to tackle it
• events helping with the cost of living in community centres across the borough
• advice and support in food banks to help people get support so they do not need to keep coming back

Services and partners that can help you apply