Decision details

As a strand of the new Crisis Resilience Fund, implemented by the government from 1 April 2026, the new Housing Payments Scheme introduces a new framework for supporting residents who require additional financial assistance to meet their housing costs.

The scheme is replacing the existing Discretionary Housing Payments scheme and is intended to help sustain tenancies, prevent homelessness, and mitigate the impacts of welfare reforms or unexpected circumstances on vulnerable groups.

To claim a Housing Payment applicants must fill in an application and provide any supporting evidence that is requested, with all applications considered on its own merits. Awards of Housing Payments are funded by the government, subject to an overall annual limit.

On 24 March 2026, Cllr Jeremy Heron, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate made the following decision:

To approve the Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment policy (Appendix 1).

The decision is not subject to Call-In as both the Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 Officer are satisfied that it must be implemented urgently. .

Details of the document the Portfolio Holder considered are attached below.

To support vulnerable households with their housing costs from 1 April 2026.

See report.