As national attention remains focused on helping families with the cost of living, people across Devon are being reminded that the Crisis and Resilience Fund can provide targeted support when unexpected costs or a sudden loss of income put households on low income under financial pressure.
Devon County Council’s reminder comes as the Government has renewed its focus on helping people with the cost of living, particularly those facing financial hardship and struggling to afford everyday essentials.
The Government-funded Crisis and Resilience Fund provides targeted support to low-income households who find themselves facing a sudden financial difficulty, such as a loss of income or an unexpected essential cost they cannot afford. It replaced the Household Support Fund in April 2026 and is available across Devon through local district/city councils and Citizen Advice Devon.
The fund is designed to help low income households who are struggling to pay for essentials such as food, energy, water, housing costs or heating oil. It can also provide wider support to help anyone improve their financial resilience and avoid future crises.
Examples of situations where someone may be eligible for support include:
- a sudden loss of income due to illness, redundancy or a change in personal circumstances
- an unexpected bill or essential household expense that they cannot afford
- households relying on heating oil who are struggling with high fuel costs
- people at risk of hardship because of a one-off financial emergency
Support is aimed at low-income households experiencing a sudden and unexpected financial shock. People do not necessarily need to be receiving benefits to qualify, and any payments received through the fund will not affect existing benefit entitlement.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, said:
“Many people can find themselves facing financial difficulties through no fault of their own. A sudden drop in income, an unexpected bill or rising household costs can quickly put pressure on family finances.
“The Crisis and Resilience Fund is there to provide support when people need it most, helping them deal with immediate difficulties while also connecting them with advice and services that can improve their longer-term financial wellbeing.
“This is particularly important for people living in our rural communities, where costs can often be higher and support can be harder to access. I would encourage anyone who is worried about paying for essentials to find out what help may be available.”
Anyone facing sudden financial difficulty can contact their local district or city council to find out how to apply for support through their local Crisis and Resilience Fund scheme. People can also seek advice and guidance through Citizens Advice Devon.
More information specifically about the Crisis and Resilience Fund is available on Devon County Council’s website Funding, money and debt – Cost of living
For more general advice, guidance and signposting to other sources of support for people struggling with the cost of living, visit the council’s website Cost of living – Cost of living