York CRF Housing Payments
York CRF Housing Payments provide financial help for people who are struggling to meet their housing costs, such as rent or mortgage payments, when their income doesn’t cover the full amount.
CRF Housing Payments replaces the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
Housing support can be made for eligible housing costs, including:
- rental deposits and rent in advance
- mortgage costs or arrears
- costs associated with securing housing or downsizing, such as removal expenses or tenancy setup
- shortfalls between housing support and actual rent, including those caused by:
- the benefit cap
- Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS)
- Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
There are 2 types of housing support:
- CRF Housing Payment - for those who receive HB or UC housing costs
- CRF Crisis Payment - for housing support, can be paid to;
- tenants who are not entitled to a CRF Housing Payment – see CRF Housing Payment eligibility
- tenants who get a CRF Housing Payment and require extra support
- owner-occupiers
- CRF Housing Payment eligibility
- How CRF Housing Payments are made
- Apply for a CRF Housing Payment
- Debt advice and assistance
- Change of circumstances
- CRF Payment decision reviews
CRF Housing Payment eligibility
CRF Housing Payments can be paid to people who are entitled to either:
- Housing Benefit, or;
- Universal Credit, including a housing element - this includes shared ownership properties which carry a rental liability
Applicants must be:
- city of York residents
- over 16 years of age
- have recourse to public funds - which applies if you have moved to the UK from another country
Applicants must also be struggling to meet their housing costs, such as rent or mortgage payments, where their income doesn’t cover the full amount.
Those who cannot apply
The following categories of people do not qualify for help:
- people who do not live within the City of York Council boundaries
- residents who have no recourse to public funds
- residents in care homes (within the meaning of specific acts) with no plans for discharge
- hospital in-patients with no plans for discharge
- people lawfully detained or on release on a temporary licence
- members of a religious order who are being fully maintained by it
- residents under 16 years of age
See full details of York CRF Payments Criteria.
How CRF Housing Payments are made
Payments are made through a discretionary, means‑tested scheme, which means we may need to ask you for some basic financial information.
We look at every application individually, using a person‑centred and needs‑based approach. This means the amount awarded will depend on your household needs.
The scheme follows a cash‑first approach, so we will usually offer direct payments. In some cases, we may provide vouchers or essential goods if these better meet your immediate needs.
Some applications may be referred to advice or support services. This helps us gather any extra information we need to make the right award and to support your long‑term financial wellbeing. Everyone who applies will also receive information and signposting to resilience services and helpful resources.
If the information in your application shows that you may be entitled to other support from City of York Council, such as Council Tax Support, we may use your application as a request for that help too, so you don’t miss out on support available to you.
CRF Housing Payments can be made:
- direct to the applicant
- to third parties, such as agents, appointees and landlords, where appropriate
- by being credited to the rent account
CRF Housing Payments may be paid in multiple instalments. The length of CRF Housing Payments is determined by the Authority. The award period and any end date will be clearly communicated to the applicant for ongoing awards.
Applications for CRF Housing Payments can be backdated. Each application will be considered on its own merits.
CRF Housing Payments can only be considered for a period where you are receiving or are eligible for Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing costs element.
CRF Housing Crisis Payments can be paid, where people do not meet the criteria above, to:
- tenants who are not entitled to a CRF Housing Payment
- tenants who get a CRF Housing Payment and require extra support
- owner-occupiers
We cannot guarantee long-term CRF Housing Payments support, as the budget is set on a year-by-year basis, and the number of applications varies due to changing economic and social factors.
The amount of the CRF Housing Payment will be based on the:
- total monthly household income, including the Housing Benefit or Universal Credit award, less;
- total monthly reasonable household expenditure, equals;
- shortfall in income to consider for a CRF Housing Payment award
CRF Housing Payments to claimants that have 2 homes
A CRF Housing Payment can be awarded in respect of 2 homes when someone is treated as temporarily absent from their main home. This includes those who have fled their main home because they are a victim of domestic abuse.
In such cases of temporary absence, if the claimant is treated as liable for rent on both properties and, in both cases, there is a shortfall, it is possible to award a Housing Payment in respect of both properties subject to the weekly or monthly limit on each property.
Apply for a CRF Housing Payment
You must check the required supporting information before starting your application.
Your application isn’t only about asking for financial help. It’s also a chance for you to give us a clear picture of your situation, so we can look at all the possible ways to help you cover the gap between your rent and your benefits.
To do this, it’s really important that you give us as much information as you can when you apply. The more we understand about what’s going on for you, the better we can support you.
CRF Housing Payment restrictions
A CRF Housing Payment is not a benefit.
The budget for CRF Housing Payments is limited, so we have to make sure the money is shared fairly and reaches the people who need it most. This means that even if you are having difficulties, there may be others whose situation is more urgent and who may receive support instead.
You can get advice and help to apply. Our Benefits Team or a local advice service can support you and arrange an appointment to talk through your application in detail. See benefits and money advice for more information and contact information.
If needed, we can also arrange an in-person appointment at West Offices.
We may contact you to ask for more information or evidence if it’s needed to complete your application.
Making your application
You can use these resources to help you list your income and expenses for your application:
You can provide the information needed to support your application, including bank statements, budget information and background information by:
- uploading PDF, JPG or GIF photos of your documents when you complete the online form
- email to: crf@york.gov.uk
- post to: CRF, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA
- booking an appointment to provide them in person at West Offices
Apply for a York CRF Housing Payment
Required supporting information
Gather the required information and documentation ahead of completing the form.
You have 10 minutes to complete each page of the application form., after this the form will time out and you will need to restart. It's not possible to save a partially completed form, nor to retrieve information if the time-out period is reached.
Please make sure you have all your household and your household income and expenditure before starting the form, as this information is required for all applications.
You'll need following information for your application:
- National Insurance Number
- contact telephone number and email address
- details of why you're applying for a CRF Housing Payment, and of any action you're taking to improve your situation
- if claiming Universal Credit, the date of your Universal Credit application and your monthly Housing Element award
- length of time at address
- details of rent paid
- names, dates of birth, relationship details and income for other household members
- details of any disabilities or health conditions for you and other household members
- Social Worker or Support Worker details
- details of any adaptations for the purposes of care needs to your home
- care details
- children and family circumstances
- current working arrangements
You'll need to provide household income details, such as:
- wages, pension, benefits, maintenance, other
- savings, capital, investments, property, other
You'll also need to provide details of household expenditure, such as:
- rent, mortgage, council tax
- utilities
- digital and phone
- insurance
- maintenance payments
- child minding fees, children's activities, school meals and meals at work
- groceries, household items and toiletries
- clothing and shoes
- prescriptions, dental and glasses
- vehicle costs, bus fares, other travel and transport
- outstanding arrears or debts, such as;
- loans
- credit cards
- catalogue debts
You'll need to provide the following evidence in support of your application and as proof of your detailed income and expenditure:
- 3 months' bank statements for all accounts you hold
- household income and expenditure information
- details of any plans you have to improve your circumstances
Bank statements can be provided as:
- scanned copies or clear photographs of paper statements
- screenshots of online statements
- PDF downloads
Help to apply
If you're unable to complete the form online, you can:
- call for assistance for free on telephone: 0808 168 5238 - please have all the information about your income, outgoings and the support you need with you when you call
- book an appointment to make your application in person at West Offices
- contact a local advice and support service to get benefits advice and help with your application
Debt advice and assistance
Advice and support are available for residents who are struggling with money and paying bills.
The Money Helper have up-to-date information and guidance about your money.
Make sure you’re getting all the help available. Use a free independent benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get, how to claim and how your benefits will be affected if your circumstances change.
Advice about CRF Housing Payments and help to apply is available, you can contact our Benefits Team or local advice service to arrange an appointment to discuss the application in detail. Get benefits and money advice.
Change of circumstances
Applicants must notify the council of any changes which may be relevant to the CRF Payment applications or awards.
The council should inform CRF Payment recipients of what changes to report and how to do so.
CRF Payment decision reviews
You have the right to a review if you are unhappy with our decision.
The decision will be looked at again by someone who did not make the original decision. If you remain unhappy you can use the council’s complaints process.
Review requests can be made by email: crf@york.gov.uk, or by post to:
CRFCity of York Council
West Offices
Station Rise
York
YO1 6GA
If you remain unhappy you can use the council’s complaints process. See details of how to raise a comment, compliment, complaint or concern.