CRF Housing Payment Frequently Asked Questions

What are CRF‑Housing Payments?

CRF‑Housing Payments are short‑term payments to help people who are struggling financially with their housing costs.

The Government gives councils a limited amount of funding for this scheme.

Sunderland City Council manages and awards these payments.

CRF‑Housing Payments are not a benefit. Awards are made at the council's discretion.

Is long‑term support available?

Not normally.

The CRF‑Housing Payment Scheme and budget means we can normally provide short‑term support only.

We encourage applicants to look for longer‑term solutions.

You can find free money advice; benefits help and budgeting support at: Managing your money and Get help and advice.

What do "housing costs" mean?

Housing costs usually mean rent you pay to your landlord.

In a small number of cases, CRF‑Housing Payments may also help with costs related to moving home (see below).

Why is there a shortfall in my rent?

Universal Credit (Housing Costs) and Housing Benefit do not always cover all of your eligible rent.

Common reasons include:

Benefit Cap - a limit on the total amount of means tested benefits you can receive ( Normally Universal Credit and / or Housing Benefit)
Bedroom Tax - reductions for 'spare' bedrooms in social housing
Local Housing Allowance limits - for people renting privately

A CRF‑Housing Payment may help reduce some of this shortfall.

Would I qualify for a CRF‑Housing Payment?

You must be receiving Universal Credit with Housing Costs or Housing Benefit.

All CRF‑Housing Payments are means‑tested. This means we look at:

Your income
Your savings or capital
Your weekly or monthly spending
Any debts you have (including unpaid ones)

We also look at whether the payment will help you improve your financial or housing situation within a short period

You may also qualify if you cannot move or improve your situation because of:

Serious medical or health issues
Complex needs
Significant support in place

You must provide appropriate supporting evidence.

What other housing costs can CRF ‑ Housing Payments cover?

In limited cases, if you already receive UC Housing Costs/Housing Benefit and have no or limited savings, we may help with some moving costs, such as:

Rent in advance
- A payment a private landlord asks for before you move in.
Rent deposit
- Money you pay to a landlord before moving in
- It may be used to cover arrears or damage
- Deposits for most private tenancies must be protected in a deposit protection scheme
Removal costs
- Help with moving your belongings to your new home

Strict rules apply. You must have tried all other options for funding first.

We cannot help if:

Your move would lead to a higher rent shortfall than you have now
You are moving into housing association, social landlord or large‑scale private landlord properties (rent in advance or deposit will not be covered)
You are moving from another council area and have not first applied to your current local authority

What can CRF‑Housing Payments NOT cover?

We cannot help with:

Council Tax
Furniture or household goods
Charges for using furniture that will become yours
Water, sewerage or environmental service charges
Rent while waiting for a new Housing Benefit or Universal Credit claim to be processed (for Universal Credit, this means until the end of your first assessment period)

How do I apply and what evidence do I need?

You must complete the full application form and provide as much detail as possible.

You will be asked for evidence, such as:

Income and expenditure
Bank statements
Savings
Medical evidence (if relevant)

You must provide this information within the deadline given.

If you cannot meet the deadline, contact us as soon as possible.

Applications may be delayed or refused if information is missing.

If my application is successful, how much will I get and how is it paid?

Payments vary because they are means‑tested
We will not pay more than the shortfall in your rent
Most awards last up to 26 weeks, but may be shorter
If you receive Universal Credit, payments are usually made in a lump sum to your landlord
If you receive Housing Benefit, payments are added to your Housing Benefit

Can I reapply?

Most people will receive only one full award.

You may receive further awards if:

You have taken action to improve your circumstances but still need support (this second award may be up to 50% lower)

You cannot improve your circumstances because of serious health issues or complex needs, and you provide evidence of these circumstances

How long does a decision take?

We aim to decide applications within two weeks of receiving all the requested evidence.

It may take longer during busy periods.

We cannot process your application until we receive all requested evidence.

We will normally contact you to discuss your application before a decision is made.

How will I be told the outcome?

We will notify you in writing by letter or email.

If your application is successful, the letter will explain:

How much you will receive
How long the award is for
What the award is based on
Any actions we expect you to take
Support services available to you
Other support that may help you

If your application is unsuccessful, the letter will explain:

Why we could not award a payment
Other support that may help you

Please check the information in your letter carefully and contact us if anything is wrong.

What if I disagree with the decision?

If you think we:

Made the wrong decision
Missed important information
Misunderstood some of your information

You can ask for an internal review within one month of your decision letter.

If the review changes the decision, we will write to you to confirm this.

CRF‑Housing Payments are not a benefit, so you cannot appeal to HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

If you remain unhappy after the internal review, you may:

Make a complaint through the council's Corporate Complaints Policy
Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaint