Community Views on Crisis Payments

'Crisis Payments': Getting help when it's needed most

HDRC Surrey qualitative research report (June 2026) examining Surrey County Council's discretionary crisis support scheme under the national Crisis and Resilience Fund. Combines an evidence review with two focus groups (n=12) of residents with lived experience of financial hardship.

Explores how "crisis" is defined, who should be eligible, and how the application process could improve.

Key themes:

• Crisis as cumulative rather than event-driven
• "Hidden hardship" among working households
• Interdependent essential needs
• Administrative/trauma-informed barriers to access