New funding to help Hampshire households facing hardship

It forms part of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) launched by the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions, which has allocated a total of £10.4 million to Hampshire for 2026/27. The remaining funding will be rolled out across the county from June and is designed not only to help people in immediate hardship but also to reduce the likelihood that households fall back into crisis. 

The new fund is set to replace the annual Household Support Fund from April and is part of a national shift towards a more stable and long-term approach to local crisis support. The Government has confirmed that the CRF will provide multi-year funding that gives councils greater certainty and allows for more effective planning. The CRF will also become the primary source of local welfare support, helping vulnerable households manage the continued rising cost of living while enabling councils to build stronger, preventative support networks.

While Hampshire develops its new process, temporary arrangements will ensure residents can still receive timely, practical help. The funding, approved today by the County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Councillor Zoe Huggins, will enable Citizens Advice to deliver crisis payments and financial resilience support directly to residents. 

The funding will also allow the County Council to issue crisis payments following professional referrals from social workers, charities and other partner organisations.  In addition, District and Borough councils will be able to offer payments to support households facing shortfalls in their housing costs.

Councillor Huggins said: “We understand that anyone can face an unexpected period of financial difficulty, and we want residents to feel confident that support will be there when they need it. This interim approach ensures continuity while we develop a strong, sustainable model for the future. I’m proud of the decisive action we are taking to support our most vulnerable residents.”

A fully developed CRF programme will be presented to the Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health for approval in June 2026.