Knowsley Crisis Payments Scheme

Find out about Knowsley Crisis Payments Scheme and how to apply. Through the scheme an individual can receive a one-off payment of £75 or £125 for a couple/family. It can also support with white goods.

Our Crisis Payments are designed to help residents experiencing a financial shock. They are funded by the Government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Logo with the text Funded by UK Government in black font against white background.

Knowsley Crisis Payments Scheme

Our Crisis Payments are designed to help low income residents experiencing a financial shock.

Crisis payments scheme

Who can receive support from the scheme?

To receive support from the scheme, you must be able to answer yes to the all the questions below:

  • Are you a Knowsley resident?
  • Are you aged over 18?
  • Are you in a low-income household? This means:
    • Your household receives means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Council Tax Reduction and Pension Credit; or
    • You are in a low-income working household not currently in receipt of benefits with an annual household income of £27,000 or less for single people or £35,000 for a couple or those with dependants
  • Are you experiencing a financial crisis and able to provide evidence of this? The scheme can support residents experiencing the following type of financial crisis:
    • Disaster
    • Accident or health emergency
    • Household relationship breakdown
    • Essential item breakdown
    • Unexpected loss of income

The scheme allows one award every financial year (this is from April 2026 to March 2027).
 

What evidence do I need to provide to apply for a crisis payment?

Have your evidence to hand ready to upload as part of the application process.

See the table below for examples for each type of crisis and the type of evidence accepted. Your application for a Crisis Payment cannot be assessed until your evidence has been provided.

You will have 5 days to provide evidence after your application has been started. If you do not provide the evidence in this time, your application will be closed. If you would still like to apply for a Crisis Payment after this, you will need to make a new application.

You will be able to start your application and return to it later to upload your evidence.

Type of crisis Examples of this type of crisis Examples of evidence
Disaster This evidence should show that a significant event has caused severe disruption or damage to your living situation. This could be due to fire, flood, storm or other natural or man-made incidents that result in urgent need for support. Reports from organisations who have supported you (your landlord, the fire service), evidence from your insurer to show you have had a fire/flood etc.
Accident or health 
emergency 		 This is evidence of an incident or sudden medical condition that was not expected which then created an immediate financial or practical crisis, such as hospitalisation, serious injury or urgent treatment needs. Fit note, hospital information for inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Household 
relationship 
breakdown 		 This evidence shows how the end of a domestic or family relationship has meant one or more individuals have had to leave the property and find somewhere new to live. This is often at short notice. Property Pool Plus application.
Essential item breakdown This evidence should show that you have lost a key household item necessary for basic living standards. Evidence could include photos/videos showing broken items, engineer reports, or replacement quotes/estimates.
Unexpected loss of income This evidence shows that you have had a sudden and unforeseen reduction in income. This could be the loss of your job, reduced working hours, a benefit sanction or other circumstances leading to a significant drop in income.

Evidence could include a redundancy notice.

Benefits Updates: DWP journal screenshots or correspondence showing changes, delays, or reductions in income.

Where your evidence has a date, this should be within the last 3 months.

If you are not sure what evidence to upload, you can contact the Council’s Hardship team on crisispayments@knowsley.gov.uk 

How to apply for a crisis payment

To apply for a Crisis Payment, you will need to complete our online application form please use the link at the bottom of this page.

You will be able to start your application and return to it later to upload your evidence.

If you unable to complete the application online you should:

Seek assistance from a friend or family member

See if a friend, neighbour or family member can complete the application online on your behalf with their consent. Applying online is the quickest way of getting support.

Attend a Citizens Advice Knowsley drop-in session

Attend a drop-in session with Citizens Advice Knowsley (session times/days are below).

Please note – residents who complete their application with Citizens Advice Knowsley should take their evidence with them if they would like this to be uploaded by them at the time of application. Applications without evidence are incomplete and cannot be assessed.

Citizens Advice Knowsley drop-in session time/days

Kirkby

142 Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, L32 8RX

Tuesday – 9.30am to 3pm - debt and money advice drop in

Friday – 9.30am to 3pm - welfare benefits and general advice drop in

Huyton

27 Cavendish Walk, Huyton, L36 9YG

Monday – 9.30am to 3pm – welfare benefits and general advice drop in

Thursday – 9.30am – 3pm – debt and money advice drop in

Call the Contact Centre

Call the Contact Centre on 0151 443 3300. Your details will be taken and shared with the Hardship Team who will contact you to complete an online application on your behalf. The Hardship Team will read out the questions and complete the form with the information you provide.

Please note – if you complete a telephone application will need to submit your evidence separately within 5 days of your application. Your Crisis Payment application cannot be assessed until your supporting evidence has been provided.

Where can I go to provide evidence for my application?

Applying online is the quickest route to a Crisis Payment.

If you complete your application online, you will be able to upload your evidence as part of the application. You will be able to start your application and return to it later to upload your evidence.

Please note you will have 5 days to provide evidence after your application has been started. If you do not provide the evidence in this time, your application will be closed. If, after this, you would still like to apply for a Crisis Payment, you will need to make a new application.

Evidence can also be emailed to crisispayments@knowsley.gov.uk

You can attend one of Citizens Advice Knowsley’s weekly drop-in sessions and ask them to share your evidence for a Crisis Payment application with us. You will need to take your evidence to the session with them and remember that you will have 5 days to provide evidence after your application has been started.

Knowsley libraries can provide access to IT equipment you can use to send your evidence to us by email. Please note that if you need help to create and send an email you should bring someone to support you during this process.  Digital Buddies are available in all libraries but can only provide basic IT information and will not be able to email on your behalf.

Libraries

All libraries are contactable on:

0151 443 3734 or yourlibrary@knowsley.gov.uk

Website: Knowsley Libraries 

Halewood Library

The Halewood Centre, Roseheath Drive, Halewood, L26 9UH

Huyton Library

Civic Way, Huyton, L36 9GD

Kirkby Library

Norwich Way, Kirkby, L32 8XY

Prescot Library

The Prescot Centre, Prescot Shopping Centre, Aspinal Street, Prescot, L34 5GA

Stockbridge Library

The Withens, Stockbridge Village, L28 1AB

What happens after my application has been submitted?

The team will review your application and aim to complete it within 2-3 working days.

We may request further evidence through the online platform if the evidence uploaded is not sufficient.

If your application is successful, you will be allocated funds through the platform either via; direct bank transfer, Paypoint cash voucher, a supermarket voucher or directly awarding an appliance depending on the need.

If your application is rejected, you can appeal the decision, but this would only be considered if there is new information or evidence not on the original application. The team would also signpost you to further support you may be able to receive.

You can only receive one crisis payment per financial year (April – March), any further applications will be rejected.

Crisis payment apply

To apply for a crisis payment, please complete the form below.

Start here

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