If you receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (including the housing costs element for rent) but are still struggling to meet your rent or cover essential housing related costs, you may be eligible for support through the Crisis Resilience Fund – Housing Strand.
This funding is designed to provide short term, targeted assistance where a household is experiencing financial hardship that places their housing at risk.
Support may be considered for shortfalls between your housing support and your actual rent, including those caused by:
- the Benefit Cap
- the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS)
- Local Housing Allowance (LHA) restrictions
Support may also be considered for costs associated with securing housing or downsizing, including:
- rent in advance when moving to new accommodation. Please note this does not cover deposits.
- Removal costs
Both of these forms of support are restricted due to funding.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for this support if:
- You live in Bath and Northeast Somerset
- You receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (including housing costs for rent)
- You are experiencing a financial crisis that affects your housing
- The support will help you to remain safely in your home
What you need to apply
To allow us to assess your application, you will need to upload the following documents as appropriate:
- Copies of any letters from your landlord about rent arrears
- Bank statements for all of your accounts, covering the last two months, including savings and online banks (even if they are overdrawn or you rarely use them)
- Evidence of your current rent, such as a rent statement from your landlord
- A rent payment statement, showing any rent arrears
- Your tenancy agreement
- Proof of any debts you currently have (if applicable)
- Medical evidence only if it relates to a current health issue that has affected your ability to work or pay your rent
If you disagree with our decision
Email welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk or write to us within one month of the date on the decision letter, explaining why you don't agree with the decision. We'll then look at the decision again.
Please note, Housing Payments are not covered by the same law as Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, so you cannot appeal to the Tribunals Service if you disagree with our decision.
How to apply
Apply online
Apply by phone
Call us on 01225 477277 (our phone lines are open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday, 9am to 4:30pm). If we are unable to answer your call, we will aim to ring you back by the end of the next working day.
Apply by post
Download and complete an application form and email it to welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk, or post to:
Benefits,
Lewis House,
Manvers Street,
Bath BA1 1JG