Crisis and Resilience Fund

The UK Government has announced that from Wednesday 1 April 2026, a new scheme called the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) will be introduced. This scheme is targeted funding provided to Local Authorities who can then use that funding to support low-income households in crisis, and to help build financial resilience against future crises. 

Please find below a guide to Waltham Forest’s CRF offer, as well as the relevant links to apply for support.

This page will continue to update as our offer develops.

The housing payments scheme provides short-term support to households struggling with housing costs.

Eligible for Waltham Forest residents who:

• Are receiving either Housing Benefit or receiving Universal Credit that includes a housing costs element
• Need additional support to meet housing costs

For more information and to apply, visit our Housing payment page.

The Crisis Payments and Local Welfare Assistance scheme provides emergency financial support to residents facing severe financial hardship.

Eligible for Waltham Forest residents who:

• Are entering or are at risk of entering a financial crisis and you cannot afford basic essentials, especially if there is a risk to health or safety
• Further eligibility guidance can be found at the link below

More information and to apply, visit our Crisis Payments and Local Welfare Assistance page.

Families with children eligible for benefits-related free school meals will receive supermarket vouchers during school holidays.

Waltham Forest residents with children who already receive one of the following welfare benefits are eligible:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - where your household income is less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

These vouchers will be processed by your child’s school just before or at the start of a school holiday. If you have queries about free school meals please do get in touch with your school.

More information and to apply, visit our free school meals page.

Primary schools taking part in this scheme continue to receive funding to provide healthy breakfasts to vulnerable pupils. Whether sit-down meals or grab-and-go items, this scheme ensures children start their day focused and ready to learn.

For further support with the cost of living – including support for food, energy, health and wellbeing:

• access free, confidential financial advice at Citizens Advice Waltham Forest
• visit our Cost of living support page
• read the National cost of living support information on the GOV.UK website