Since April, councils in England, including Kingston, have run the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund.

People in crisis can apply to their council for help with food, energy bills and essential items, but how much each council gets is set by a government formula.

Bill help experts at Ex felon grants compared each council's crisis money for 2026/27 with the number of residents on low incomes in its area, and Kingston is among the top 10 councils with the biggest falls.

Dawn Yates, from Ex felon grants, said: "Where you live makes a real difference to how much help is there when things go wrong. A family on a low income in Wokingham or Kingston has about half as much crisis money behind them as one in Cumbria or Norfolk.

"If you're struggling in Kingston, find out now what your council offers, rather than waiting until you're desperate."

The areas with the least crisis money per resident on a low income include:

1. Wokingham: £38.89, down 29% on last year

2. Kingston upon Thames: £38.97, down 29%

3. Harrow: £40.21

4. Merton: £40.66, down 15%

5. Redbridge: £42.23

6. Sutton: £43.47, down 18%

7. Wandsworth: £44.03, down 21%

8. Tower Hamlets: £44.17

9. Bracknell Forest: £44.38, down 24%

10. Barnet: £44.61

How to get help from your council

• Search for your council's name and "Crisis Payment". Every council in England that runs the fund must call its scheme a Crisis Payment
• Councils must accept applications all year round and offer at least two ways to apply, such as online, by phone or in person
• Help can include money for food, energy and essential items. The government wants councils to give cash as the first choice, though some use vouchers or pay suppliers directly
• Each council sets its own rules, so check what yours needs, such as proof of income or a recent bill
• In Wales, the Discretionary Assistance Fund offers similar help, in Scotland the Scottish Welfare Fund, and in Northern Ireland Discretionary Support

Yates added: "If you're turned down or the money has run out, ask what else they can point you to, from food banks to energy company hardship funds. It's always worth asking."

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