Lancaster City Council has launched a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to replace the former Household Support Fund, offering three years of government-backed financial help from 1 April 2026. The council confirmed the change on its news page on 30 June, with the fund already live and ready to process applications for residents facing sudden hardship.
The Crisis & Resilience Fund covers food, energy bills, household supplies, and other urgent costs, and is delivered in partnership with North Lancashire Citizens Advice. Councillor Mandy Bannon, Cabinet Member for Communities, Well-Being and Partnerships, said the scheme provides practical help when it is needed most. Residents can call 01524 582000 and choose option 7, apply online, or visit Lancaster or Morecambe Town Halls between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
More than £1m of Household Support Funding from the Department for Work and Pensions had been allocated to the city since May 2023, with the final round closing on 31 March 2026. The new fund keeps the same emergency support but adds heating oil payments and housing shortfall assistance, while also connecting people with benefit entitlement checks and debt advice for longer-term stability.
The broader offer now includes resilience services and community coordination, channelling investment into local voluntary groups that can help families before they reach a crisis point. North Lancashire Citizens Advice will deliver those services alongside the council, extending the partnership already familiar to many residents from the previous scheme.
Any household in the district experiencing a sudden loss of income or unexpected expense can apply, with council staff urging anyone unsure of their eligibility to get in touch regardless.
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