17 July 2026

Hundreds of households across East Cleveland are receiving extra cost of living support today as the Labour Government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund begins making automatic payments to eligible residents.

In Redcar & Cleveland, households receiving Council Tax Support will receive £100 if they have children or £50 if they do not, with payments landing automatically from today. The new fund provides both immediate financial help and longer-term support.

The scheme is designed to reach more people than previous emergency funds. Alongside support for households, it includes help with housing costs, crisis payments for people facing unexpected financial hardship, debt and benefits advice, employment support and help to build longer-term financial resilience. Rather than simply responding to emergencies, councils are being supported to help residents avoid reaching crisis point in the first place.

The new fund is part of the Labour Government’s wider £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund, one of the biggest investments in local crisis support for a generation. It forms part of Labour’s plan to tackle child poverty and the cost of living, giving councils the certainty to plan support over three years instead of relying on short-term funding announced one year at a time.

Luke Myer MP said:

“Today’s payments will make a real difference for families who are feeling the pressure of higher household costs.

“I’m particularly pleased that this goes beyond the old model of simply reacting to emergencies. As well as direct financial support, it’s about helping people with housing costs, debt advice, employment support and other practical help to get back on their feet.

“This is a good example of the Labour Government providing long-term funding so councils can offer better, more joined-up support for local people. If you’re struggling financially, it’s well worth checking what help may now be available.”

Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson, said:

“Families deserve support before a crisis hits, not after. By scrapping the two-child limit and launching a £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund, we’re giving councils the tools to help families build real financial security.

“Growing up in poverty has a significant impact on health, education and employment and lifting 550,000 children out of these circumstances isn’t just about fairness today, it’s about building a stronger Britain for the future.”

Emma Revie, co-chief executive at Trussell, said:

“The new Crisis and Resilience Fund is a vital step towards ensuring no-one is forced to turn to a food bank to get by, and represents important progress on the government’s manifesto commitment to ending the need for emergency food. We welcome its development, which is based on the evidence and insights from our community of food banks and other experts in the Crisis Support Working Group and we look forward to continuing this work in partnership to help end the need for food banks for good.”