Allocations and guidance for the CRF were announced by DWP on 16 January 2026. This is a multi-year agreement of 3 years starting on 1 April 2026. There is an urgent need to agree on a budgeting framework for the programme. The particular focus will be on:

Crisis payments: Households in crisis, with children in need and/or with a cash shortfall or multiple debt.

Housing payments: Prevent households from becoming homeless and support those affected by homelessness and/or in crisis. From April 2026, Discretionary Housing Payment will be replaced by the Housing Payment strand of the CRF. Housing payment provides financial support towards housing costs for eligible households. Housing payments will be an opportunity to offer a gateway to wider support.

Resilience Services: Activities that reduce material deprivation, reduce the need for emergency food parcels, increase access to appropriate and quality advice services, increase savings, reduce debt and maximise individual incomes

Community Coordination of activities that connect and enhance the local landscape to support a ‘no wrong door’ approach working closely with the voluntary and community sector to ensure effective joint working, service co-design, co-location, capacity building, supported referrals and feedback loops.

DWP funding allocation for Plymouth.

Year 1: April 2026 to 31 March 2027

£4.2m total of which £423,350 is designated for Housing Payment

Year 2: April 2026 to 31 March 2027

£4.2m total of which £423,350 is designated for Housing Payment

Year 3: April 2026 to 31 March 2027

£4.1m total of which £311,114 is designated for Housing Payment