The Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment scheme can give you limited short term help to pay your rent.
It is a short-term emergency payment until you can find alternative housing . It should not be considered as a permanent solution to a shortfall in your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing Element award. It can also be considered for people who have to move to a new property at short notice and need help with a deposit, rent in advance or some moving costs.
Before we can give you a Housing Payment:
- You can only apply if you already receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with Housing Costs towards rental liability for a property in the District.
- You must require additional help with your housing costs; this means you have a shortfall between your rent and benefit entitlement
- You must have already spoken with your housing provider about your rent payments
- We must have sufficient funds available to cover the cost of your Housing Payment.
You cannot use it for:
- Water, meals, fuel or other ineligible service charges included in your rent
- Increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears
- Sanctions and reductions in benefit
We take into account:
- The shortfall between Housing Benefit and the housing component of Universal Credit and the contractual rent.
- The income and expenditure of you and your household.
- Any savings or capital held by you or your household.
- Any steps taken to reduce your rental liability. For example, have you tried or are you actively seeking alternative cheaper accommodation?
- Any future changes in circumstances.
- Did you find out what your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit would be before moving into the property?
- Were you aware of any restrictions on Housing Benefit as a result of under occupation?
- Have you applied for all available sources of income available to you?
- The level of indebtedness and committed expenditure of you and your family.
- Increases in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit entitlement.
- If you have had a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment previously
You can get advice on claiming a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing payment by contacting Citizens Advice.
How to apply
If you think that you need this extra help, you need to complete a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment application here (link opens in new window) and submit it to us with as much information as possible to help us understand your circumstances. If you are unable to access this application, you can also telephone us and we will complete this application for you.
Once we have received your form we will contact you to let you know if we require any further information or evidence. We may also arrange an interview with you to discuss your request in more detail.
If you need extra help or support from the Crisis and Resilience Fund please contact Nottinghamshire County Council.
For further details about the scheme, the Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment policy may be viewed here (link opens in new window).