Housing payments
About housing payments
From 1 April 2026, discretionary housing payments have been replaced by housing payments.
These new payments are part of the wider crisis and resilience fund - CRF (leicestershire.gov.uk)
Although the crisis and resilience fund is administered by Leicestershire County Council, housing payments will continue to be assessed by local councils.
The aim of these payments is to provide additional help to people who are already in receipt of housing benefit, or the housing costs element of universal credit, that are in severe hardship. As these payments are discretionary there are no guaranteed payments, each case is considered on its own merits.
Housing payments are made on top of your benefit entitlement but are not benefit payments.
We decide who is eligible for help through this scheme. There is a limited budget and once this has been exhausted there can be no further help available.
You will need to have considered the following before you make a claim for housing payments, otherwise your claim may not be considered:
- Have you contacted your landlord to see if more suitable accommodation is available?
- Have you spoken to your landlord to see if you can re-negotiate your rent?
- If you have debt problems, have you looked for help from organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau?
- Have you applied for all the benefits from the Department for Works and Pensions that are available to you?
Last updated: 28/08/2026 13:51
