Case study research into the delivery of the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments
This report summarises the findings from research into the delivery of the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) schemes.
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DHPs and the HSF are both discretionary welfare support schemes offered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). These schemes (introduced in 2001 and 2021 respectively) are designed to provide financial assistance to individuals and households facing hardship. Both schemes are delivered by local authorities (LAs) who interpret national guidance and set local priorities, and are crisis and prevention-oriented.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a new, reformed discretionary crisis scheme for England, which will replace both schemes in England from April 2026. The aim of this fund is to provide more stable, long-term funding that enables councils to offer both crisis support, including help with housing cost shortfalls and preventative help and address issues like short-term funding cycles and improving strategic planning.
This research was commissioned to provide a better understanding of the interactions between, and delivery of, the HSF and DHP schemes in order to inform the implementation of the CRF.
Contribution to the Evidence Base
This research addresses key evidence gaps on LAs’ delivery approaches across both the HSF and DHPs. It captures how they are currently delivering funding and explores their perspectives on what could be improved for future delivery of the CRF.
Research Value
The research will be used to inform the development of the guidance and implementation of the CRF.