If you've been relying on the Household Support Fund to help cover food, energy, or essential costs, you need to know that it no longer exists. The fund closed in March 2026 after the government ended its national grant programme.
In its place, Kingston upon Thames Council has introduced a new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which runs through to 2029. It sounds like a straightforward swap. But the details matter — because not everyone who qualified before will automatically qualify now, and the application process has changed.
Here is what we know, and the questions residents should be asking.
The Household Support Fund was a central government grant, channelled through local councils, specifically designed to help low-income households with the cost of living crisis. Kingston distributed the money to residents struggling with food, energy bills, and other essentials — often through a combination of direct payments, vouchers, and referrals via community organisations.
The fund was repeatedly extended since its launch in 2021, but the government chose not to renew it beyond March 2026. That decision was made at Westminster, not in Kingston — but it is Kingston's responsibility to decide what, if anything, fills the gap.
The new Crisis and Resilience Fund is a locally designed and locally funded replacement. Unlike the Household Support Fund, it is not backed by a ring-fenced central government grant. Kingston Council is funding it from its own budget.
The fund is intended to provide short-term emergency financial assistance to residents in crisis, while also supporting longer-term resilience — meaning help with managing debt, accessing benefits, and building financial stability, not just one-off payments.
The fund runs to 2029, giving it a three-year horizon rather than the year-to-year uncertainty of the Household Support Fund renewals.
The Council Clarity team has reviewed publicly available council guidance. The Crisis and Resilience Fund is broadly aimed at:
The fund also extends to some categories of resident who may not have been prioritised under the Household Support Fund, including people in work but on very low incomes, and those in the so-called 'just about managing' bracket who do not currently receive benefits.
This is where scrutiny matters.
The money is now local, not national. That means it competes directly with every other council priority — social care, housing, waste collection. The Household Support Fund was additional money from government. The Crisis and Resilience Fund is not. It comes from a council budget that is already under serious strain.
Kingston's own Medium Term Financial Strategy projects an £18 million budget gap over four years to 2030. The council holds £14.2 million in reserves — less than the gap it needs to fill. At the same time, council tax rose by £119.77 per year for a Band D household in 2026/27, bringing the total bill to £2,608.12 — a 4.99% increase.
In that context, questions about how well-funded the Crisis and Resilience Fund actually is are not academic. They are urgent.
The resilience element is new — but watch for 'support theatre'. The shift from pure crisis payments to a model that also builds resilience sounds sensible. But if it means residents in genuine emergency are asked to sit through debt advice sessions before getting help with their electricity bill, that is a problem. The council needs to be clear that crisis support is immediate, and resilience support is additional — not a prerequisite.
Referral routes are changing. Under the Household Support Fund, many residents accessed help through food banks, schools, and community organisations. The council should be transparent about which referral partners are recognised under the new fund, and whether voluntary sector organisations still have a route to apply on residents' behalf.
Applications are made through Kingston Council's website, via the financial support section. You can also be referred by:
If you are in immediate crisis and cannot navigate an online form, you can contact the council's Customer Services team directly. Kingston also operates a Welfare and Benefits team that can assess your broader entitlements at the same time as processing a fund application.
If you are already receiving support from a council service, ask your key worker or caseworker whether they can initiate a referral on your behalf.
The existence of the Crisis and Resilience Fund is welcome. But residents deserve honest answers to some pointed questions:
With full council elections taking place on 7 May 2026 across all 19 wards and 48 seats, every candidate should have a view on this fund. Ask them.
If you or someone you know needs help, do not wait. Contact Kingston Council's financial support team or Citizens Advice Kingston today. Do not assume the fund is inaccessible because you are working, or because you have not needed help before.
And if you want the council to be more transparent about how much is in the fund, who is accessing it, and what the plan is if demand outstrips supply — your councillors need to hear from you.
Use Council Clarity to message your Kingston councillor directly. Tell them you want a public breakdown of the Crisis and Resilience Fund's annual budget, a clear commitment on turnaround times, and a straight answer on what happens when the money runs low. It takes two minutes, and it is exactly the kind of pressure that changes how councils behave.
Share this post
Want to have your say on this issue?
Contact your local councillor through Council Clarity. Your message becomes a public thread.
Message your councillor →Section 21 'no-fault' evictions are gone, tenancies are now rolling by default, and rent challenge rights are stronger. Here's what it means for Kingston renters.
explainerStep-by-step guide to claiming compensation from Kingston Council for pothole damage — evidence, legal standards, and what to realistically expect.
explainerKingston now has London's highest Band D council tax at £2,608.12. Here's every discount and reduction scheme residents can claim — and how to apply.