The fund runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. Councils must deliver it in line with national rules.
The fund has four parts:
- Crisis Payments for emergency money help
- Housing Payments to help with housing costs
- Resilience Services to advise and support to build long‑term money skills
- Community Coordination to work to link local support services
We’re now designing our local scheme to make sure it meets the needs of Newcastle residents.
Free school meals
Children who get free school meals will receive food vouchers for:
- Easter school holidays 2026
- May half term
- Summer school holidays
Crisis Payment scheme
Who can get help
You may get a Crisis Payment if:
- you are a householder
- you live in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne
- you’re 16 or over
- you don’t have enough money for an essential item or service due to a crisis
- you have no other way to stop serious harm or risk to you or a family member
What you can get
You can get quick money help for urgent needs, such as:
- food and energy
- essential furniture or appliances
- emergency housing costs
- transport or digital access
Most people will get a cash‑first payment. This means you’ll get money so you can choose what you need.
Who can apply
You can only ask for help from this fund if your family suddenly gets less money, stops getting money (not because of a Universal Credit sanction), or must pay for something unexpected.
You can:
- apply here or
- telephone 0191 2787878 ask for ‘Housing Benefit” then select option 3 “Crisis and Housing Payment Fund’ Monday to Friday 9:30am till 3:30pm.
You will need
- an email address and / or telephone number
- provide 2 months bank statements
- evidence to support your claim
What to expect
We’ll make a decision as soon as we can.
If approved, you’ll get a cash voucher within 48 hours of sending your evidence (where possible). You can cash this at the Post Office.
If we refuse your application, we’ll tell you why and you can ask us to look at it again.
We may offer you support from money, housing or wellbeing services.
You may not get another Crisis Payment if you already received one in the last 12 months.
What the fund is not for
The fund is not:
- a guaranteed payment for everyone
- a replacement for benefits like Universal Credit
- long‑term income support
- a way to clear or repay debts
How to apply
You can apply by clicking on this link here.
You will need this information to hand:
- Details of your household income and expenditure
- Proof of 2 months bank statements
- Any other evidence to support your claim
Housing Payments help people who get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and cannot meet their housing costs.
They may cover:
- rent shortfalls
- removal costs
Housing Payments replace Discretionary Housing Payments from 1 April 2026. You can apply for a Housing Payment here.
Resilience and Community Cohesion
More details about these parts of the scheme will be available soon.
If you need support now, you can find free, confidential and impartial advice about debt, money, energy and utility costs on the Newcastle City Council website here.
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