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North Hertfordshire: Household Support Fund & Crisis and Resilience Fund

What North Hertfordshire’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

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

What North Hertfordshire’s scheme covers

Who qualifies: Must receive Housing Benefit that is less than contractual rent, or the housing element of Universal Credit
How to apply: Apply using the online Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment application form
Decision: Council aims to decide within 14 days
Not covered: Cannot be used for services included in rent, such as utility bills
Funding period: Replaced Discretionary Housing Payments from April 2026
Government allocation: £163,694 for 2026-27

North Hertfordshire District Council is one of 10 district councils in Hertfordshire. In a two-tier area the county council runs crisis payments and the district runs the housing side of the fund — rent shortfalls, a deposit, rent in advance. Hertfordshire County Council was allocated £9,299,527 for 2026-27; North Hertfordshire District Council was allocated £163,694 of its own. If what you need is help with food or energy rather than rent, start with the Hertfordshire scheme.

What North Hertfordshire itself says

Who qualifies. “you need to be in receipt of Housing Benefit and the Housing Benefit you receive must be less than your contractual rent”
How to apply. “An application should be made by completing our online Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment application form”
Decision. “We aim to make a decision within 14 days”
Not covered. “the payment cannot be used for services included in your rent such as utility bills”
Funding period. “Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments replace Discretionary Housing Payments from April 2026”

Quoted from North Hertfordshire’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 North Hertfordshire’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 North Hertfordshire scheme page

Source: North Hertfordshire District Council — Crisis and Resilience Fund. 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

White-goods grants — a broken fridge, cooker or washing machine.
Budgeting Advance or Budgeting Loan — interest-free from the DWP.
Credit union loans — the cheapest borrowing, capped at 3% a month.
DWP phone numbers — which line to call, and for what.

Not in North Hertfordshire?

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: North Norfolk, St Albans, Cheshire West and Chester — see all 141.

Find your council by postcode

Not in North Hertfordshire? 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 North Hertfordshire District 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.