Tender: HCC Crisis Resilience Fund – Digital Payment System for Crisis Payments and Resilience Services

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HCC is seeking a supplier for a dedicated digital payment system and associated services to support delivery of the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaces the Household Support Fund to provide crisis support to low-income households and build longer-term financial resilience. The system must support two funding strands: Crisis Payments — a year-round, multi-channel, application-based cash-equivalent approach that allows self-referral and delivers person-centred, trauma-informed, needs-based payments for urgent essentials (food, utilities, essential goods); and Resilience Services and Community Coordination — initiatives such as debt advice, income maximisation, savings advice, affordable credit, and activities that strengthen local partnerships and referral pathways. The payment solution must enable payments via multiple channels and delivery routes (trusted professional partners, internal teams and other commissioned providers), reduce administrative burden, enforce consistent controls across schemes, be accessible, and provide accurate management information for local oversight and DWP reporting. The CRF programme runs initially until 31 March 2029; HCC’s allocation for 26/27 is £11.3 million with initial estimates indicating up to 30% may be used for crisis payments.