The Crisis and Resilience Fund can provide short-term help if you are on a low income and are facing an unexpected financial crisis or emergency.

Find out:

Who can apply for Crisis and Resilience Fund payments?

You can apply to us for a Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) payment if you:

  • currently live in Chesterfield borough
  • are moving to the borough (and need support to do so)
  • are homeless or fleeing domestic abuse, and seeking support within the borough

You also must:

  • be aged 16 or over
  • be responsible for household costs
  • be on a low income
  • be experiencing an immediate financial shock
  • have no other means of meeting the immediate need

Please note - if there is not enough funding to meet every request, we may give priority where:

  • you are at immediate risk of homelessness, eviction or are sleeping rough
  • there is domestic abuse, a safeguarding concern, or an urgent need to move somewhere safe
  • your household includes a child, care leaver, pregnant person, disabled person, older person or someone with significant health needs
  • you could lose temporary accommodation or the chance to move into settled housing
  • you cannot use savings, credit or help from another source
  • a payment, together with other support, is likely to make your housing situation stable

Why you might need help

You may be able to get help with housing related costs if you are facing an emergency or unexpected financial difficulty, such as:

  • a sudden loss of income
  • being at risk of losing your home
  • other emergencies, such as illness, fire, flood, domestic abuse or family breakdown
  • other exceptional housing circumstances that put your health, safety or wellbeing at risk

What support you can get

Support depends on your situation, and may include:

  • help if you are at risk of eviction or homelessness because of rent arrears or temporary financial difficulties
  • help with a rent deposit where this is needed to secure suitable accommodation
  • support to help prevent eviction or enforcement action
  • costs that help prevent homelessness
  • help to move to more affordable or suitable accommodation, where appropriate, such as help with removal costs
  • help to remain in your current home or secure alternative accommodation
  • support following a crisis, such as flooding, fire, domestic abuse or homelessness
  • other support where you are experiencing exceptional financial hardship and cannot meet essential housing related costs

Information you will need

When you apply, you may need to provide evidence to support your application which may include:

  • your National Insurance number, if you have one
  • proof of identity
  • proof of address
  • details of your income and spending
  • details of the crisis or emergency
  • bank statements
  • copy of your lease if renting through a private landlord
  • any other evidence that may help your application

If you don't provide appropriate evidence this may delay your application, or mean we are unable to consider your claim. If your situation is urgent, we may make a decision before all evidence is provided.

Once we receive your application we will review the information you have provided. We may contact you for more information or to check details. 

Sending an application does not guarantee that funding will be awarded.

Please make sure the information you give us is true and accurate. If you give false or misleading information, we may investigate this as potential fraud.

How to apply

The simplest and fastest way to apply is online. 

You can claim online through your My Chesterfield account, so that you can track your application.  

If you don't want to sign-up for a My Chesterfield account you can: 


Protecting your privacy - find out how we keep your information safe.

If you are not able to apply online, or need help with your application, you can:

Applications can also be completed on your behalf by a nominated contact, or by support organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau. 

How we decide, and how to ask for a review

A trained council officer will consider your circumstances, this scheme, the national guidance and the funding available.

We will write to you to tell you our decision. The letter will explain:

  • whether you will receive help
  • the amount awarded and how it will be paid
  • the reasons for the decision and any conditions
  • other support offered
  • how to ask us to look at the decision again

Asking for a review

If you think the decision is wrong, you can ask us to review it within one month of the date of the decision. You’ll need to tell us why you think it should be changed and send any new information or evidence that will support your application. 

A different officer will carry out the review. Their decision will be final for this discretionary scheme, but this does not affect any other complaint or legal rights you may have.

Other support available

We can help you access wider support by referring you to partner organisations. This may include help with food, emergency gas or electricity, travel, and essential household items such as white goods or furniture.

Derbyshire County Council may be able to provide additional support find out more here. 

Housing Payments may be an option for people who find that the shortfall between their Housing Benefit / Universal Credit award and their housing costs causes them exceptional hardship - find out about Housing Payments here.

You can also find details of other available cost of living support here. 

About the Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) scheme is funded by the UK Government, and is for people on a low income who need urgent support. 

Derbyshire County Council is responsible for the fund, but district and borough councils administer it on their behalf.

We are responsible for administering applications in Chesterfield. 

We will look at your situation, what support you need and what may have caused the crisis. The fund is discretionary, therefore not all applicants are guaranteed financial support through this fund.

Equalities

We want the Crisis and Resilience Fund to be fair and accessible to everyone. We will treat you with dignity and respect and will not discriminate, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

If you need help to apply, or to communicate with us, we can consider reasonable adjustments.

This could include help to complete the form, information in another format, a preferred contact method, extra time where reasonable, or support from an advocate or trusted organisation.

Please tell us about any support needs when you apply or contact us directly. 

Contact us about the Crisis and Resilience Fund

If you have any questions, or want to follow-up your CRF application please contact our customer services team.

Last updated on 09/11/2026