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Cornwall: Household Support Fund & Crisis and Resilience Fund

What Cornwall’s local crisis scheme covers, how to apply, and whether it was open when we checked.

Written by the benefitmoney.co.uk editorial team · Last reviewed 14 September 2026

Cornwall Council runs its local crisis help as the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). It is a grant — not a loan: help with essentials, nothing to repay. This is a summary; Cornwall’s own page (linked below) is the authority and the current position.

What Cornwall’s scheme covers

Covers: Emergency financial help; essential household costs; support to stay safely in your home; referrals to advice; housing assistance
Status: active from 1 April 2026 (confirmed 10 September 2026)
Funding period: From 1 April 2026; one-off £100 payment in Autumn 2026 to eligible pensioner households
Who qualifies: Must live in Cornwall and be a UK resident; for housing-cost support, must receive a qualifying benefit such as Income Support, income-based JSA, Pension Credit, income-related ESA, or maximum Universal Credit
How often: Cannot get further support if you have already received more than £1,500 in Crisis and Resilience support in the last 12 months
Referral needed: Either — apply yourself, or a support worker can apply for you
You will need: The last 2 most recent bank statements for all current and savings accounts
Not covered: Cannot apply if you are not a UK resident, or if you are currently in hospital
Government allocation: £9,838,580 for 2026-27

Ineligible if you have received more than £1,500 in crisis support in the last 12 months

Before you apply

Have this ready. Your last two most recent bank statements, for all current and savings accounts
Use the right route. Online application form, then the Better Off Calculator shared with an adviser; last two months' bank statements required
Check it is still open. active from 1 April 2026 We confirmed this on 10 September 2026.

Only what Cornwall states on its own page. Other councils ask for more — see what they have in common.

What Cornwall itself says

Who qualifies. “receive a qualifying benefit (e.g. income support, income based JSA, pension credit, income related ESA, or maximum Universal Credit)”
How often. “have received more than £1500 in Crisis and Support in the last 12 months”
Referral needed. “This may come directly from the Council or through one of our trusted partners”
You will need. “you will also be required to provide your last 2 most recent bank statements (for all current and savings accounts)”

Quoted from Cornwall’s own page↗, checked 14 September 2026. Nothing on this page is paraphrased into a rule the council has not published. The government allocation is from Annex A of the Crisis and Resilience Fund grant determination 2026 to 2027↗.

Apply on Cornwall’s website

Applications are made on the council’s own site — this page collects nothing. If the link has moved, search the council site for “crisis and resilience”, then “household support”, then “welfare assistance”.

Open the Cornwall scheme page

Source: Cornwall Council — Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). Opened 10 September 2026.

Where this money comes from

Central government funds it; the council sets the rules. A payment does not affect your benefits. How the fund works nationally.

Other help you may qualify for

Help with energy bills — grants and supplier schemes.
Eligibility checker — see what you could be entitled to.
White-goods grants — a broken fridge, cooker or washing machine.
Budgeting Advance or Budgeting Loan — interest-free from the DWP.

Not in Cornwall?

See the other councils we have checked, or find yours via GOV.UK’s Get help with the cost of living from your local council↗.

Outside England the scheme has a different name: the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland, the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, and Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland.

Recently checked elsewhere: Cotswold, Hertsmere, Stockport — see all 141.

Find your council by postcode

Not in Cornwall? Enter a postcode and we will point you at the right council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund page.

We look the postcode up with the free postcodes.io service to find your local authority. Nothing you type is stored.

This page is independent. It is not run by Cornwall Council, the Department for Work and Pensions or GOV.UK. Council schemes change without notice; the council’s own page is always the current position.