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Additional Help with Rent and Council Tax

Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments (CRFHP) and Council Tax Hardship (CTH)
If you are struggling to pay your rent or Council Tax, there are two types of additional support available from the Council.

These schemes offer short term help during periods of financial difficulty or exceptional circumstances.

Contents

Help with Rent - Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments (CRFHP)

In this section:

Introduction

Starting 1 April 2026

Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments (CRFHP) provide extra help with housing costs when your Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit does not cover your full rent.

These payments:

  • cannot cover ineligible service charges such as fuel, meals or water rates included in your rent
  • act as a temporary top up rather than long term support
  • are awarded at the discretion of the Council
  • are intended to assist during financial hardship, exceptional circumstances, or temporary shortfalls in income

To qualify, you must receive some Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit.

What CRFHPs can help with

You may be able to receive support if:

  • Your Housing Benefit has reduced because you under occupy a significantly adapted home.
  • Your Housing Benefit or UC housing costs are restricted under Local Housing Allowance rules (e.g. shared accommodation rate under age 35).
  • You are struggling due to non dependant deductions.
  • You have a temporary reduction in income.
  • You need a one off payment to help you move to more affordable accommodation, such as: 
    • removal costs
    • bond / rent in advance

What the fund cannot cover

CRFHPs cannot be used for:

  • Fuel, water or sewerage charges included in your rent
  • Any meals included in your rent
  • Reductions in Housing Benefit due to overpayment recovery

We may not award a payment if you could reduce housing costs in other ways, such as moving to cheaper accommodation or applying for another benefit. Where appropriate, we will signpost you to alternative support.

How we make decisions

We assess your application using the information you provide. We must be satisfied that a payment will help you resolve the difficulties you are facing.

We may consider:

  • your income, savings and assets
  • whether your rent is reasonable
  • if anyone else can help you financially
  • your debts or loans
  • if your money could be managed differently
  • whether your accommodation is suitable for your needs
  • any health conditions affecting you or your household
  • whether there is a genuine risk of eviction
  • if you can move to more affordable suitable accommodation
  • overall demand on the fund (as it is limited each year)

You will receive a written decision explaining the outcome and how any award will be paid.

How much you may receive and for how long

Each request is assessed individually. Awards:

  • vary in amount depending on your circumstances
  • are usually short term
  • cannot exceed your total rent charge
  • are not intended to provide long term ongoing support

How CRFHP payments are made

Payments are normally made in the same way as your Housing Benefit:

  • directly to your rent account (social tenants), or
  • directly into your bank account alongside your Housing Benefit (private tenants)

In some cases, we may decide to make the payment directly to your private landlord or social housing provider if we believe this is the most appropriate way to support you and help manage your tenancy.

Help with Council Tax - Council Tax Hardship (CTH)

The Council also provides a Discretionary Council Tax Hardship Fund (CTH) for people who receive Council Tax Reduction but still need further help.

You may qualify if:

  • you receive Council Tax Reduction
  • your reduction does not cover the full balance of your bill
  • you are experiencing exceptional hardship or exceptional circumstances
  • you are the person named on the Council Tax bill

CTH is short term assistance to support you through a temporary period of financial difficulty.

How to apply

You can apply for CRFHP, CTH or both online using our joint application form.

This is a combined form that allows you to request help from one or both schemes.

You will be asked to tell us which support you want to apply for.

If you need help completing the form, our Money Advisors can assist.

Contact the Money Advisors:

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Outside these hours you can leave a voicemail or email us.

What happens after your apply

Once your form is received:

  • a Money Advisor may contact you to discuss your situation
  • we may ask for supporting documents
  • you may be invited to an interview at our Worksop or Retford office

You will receive a written decision explaining whether your application has been successful.

If you disagree with a decision

There is no formal right of appeal, as CRFHPs and CTH are discretionary payments and not benefits.

However, you may ask us to look at the decision again.

Write to us as soon as possible explaining why you think the decision is wrong.

Changes in circumstances

You must tell us immediately if your circumstances change.

This includes changes to:

  • income
  • savings or investments
  • rent
  • benefits
  • people joining or leaving your household

You must report changes within one month.

We will reassess your Housing Benefit or UC housing costs first, then review any CRFHP or CTH awards.

Contact details

Telephone: 01909 533710 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Email: benefits@bassetlaw.gov.uk 

Write to or visit us at:
Benefits Unit
Bassetlaw District Council
Queens Buildings
Potter Street
Worksop
Nottinghamshire
S80 2AH

Last Updated on Thursday, April 23, 2026