Households across the UK could receive appliances, utility bill help and even cash payments worth up to £300 as a part of an ongoing government scheme.
Available to those struggling with their finances, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is offered by local councils alongside the regular benefits and grants.
Some councils are offering appliances like air fryers and microwaves, while others are even ‘replacing’ the winter fuel payment for pensioners who were ruled ineligible for it due to Labour changes last year.
The nationwide scheme was first introduced by the Conservative government in 2021 to support vulnerable households through the cost of living crisis and Covid-19 pandemic.
But with costs and bills remaining high long past the peak of the pandemic, the ‘temporary’ measure has now been extended five times, most recently by Labour in August.
The latest round of funding has provided local authorities with a share of the £421 million pot to spend how they feel will best support households in their areas. Some may provide cash grants, for instance, while others are offering supermarket vouchers or heating support.
In most cases, there will be strict criteria for a household to be eligible for support through the local HSF. This will include factors such as income, vulnerability of the resident, number of dependents and cost of bills. Most schemes will also require households to apply, and not be awarded automatically.
Here’s your guide to what support is available in local areas across the country this winter:
London
Tower Hamlets
Access to the HSF in Tower Hamlets is available through the authority’s Resident Support Scheme. This is designed to help with “short term living costs” including food, gas/electric meters, and in some cases white goods and furniture.
The authority has also used part of its HSF allocation to provide financial support to low-income pensioners who do not qualify for the winter fuel payment.
Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “Making the Winter Fuel payment means-tested will have a detrimental effect on pensioners who are already facing the rising costs of energy bills.
“This creates a risk that pensioners will not turn their heating on for fear of not being able to pay the bills, which is wrong.
“This is why we are stepping in and providing a £175 safety net for those who will be missing out.”
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Tower Hamlets council website.
Lambeth
Lambeth council says its HSF will be used for the following:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Lambeth council website.
Enfield
Through Enfield’s HSF, assistance may be available for:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Enfield council website
Croydon
Croydon’s HSF fund will go towards helping residents with household costs. These could include:
The fund can also go towards essential household appliances and essential transport costs.
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Croydon council website.
Kingston
Kingston council says it will use its HSF allocation to support households in need afford the essentials. Vouchers will be made available to support with costs such as “food, utility bills and other pressures.”
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Kingston council website.
Rest of England:
North Lincolnshire
In North Lincolnshire, over 6,000 pensioners will receive free airfryers, with over 1,000 delivered so far. The council says the the initiative is designed to help reduce energy bills and cool more healthy meals.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Many pensioners are struggling to pay their energy bills and relied on the winter fuel payment at this time of the year when energy bills soar, particularly as the temperatures have plummeted and at North Lincolnshire Council we want to do our bit to help.”
The council is also sending out over 1,300 slow cookers and nearly 400 one-cup kettles. In December, the household support fund was also used to send £200 low-income pensioners in the area to replace the funds loss from the removal of the winter fuel payment.
Newcastle
In Newcastle, the HSF will be used for:
The council will also be contacting local pensioners receiving council tax support and/or housing benefit who no longer qualify for the winter fuel payment following Labour changes to the benefit.
Advise from the authority reads: “We will support 3,700 households in receipt of Council Tax Support and or Housing Benefit who will not qualify for the Government’s Winter Fuel Allowance.”
Worcestershire
In Worcestershire, the HSF will provide eligible households with:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Worcestershire council website.
Surrey
Surrey council will be using the HSF to fund several strands of support for struggling households, these include:
The council has also set aside £750,000 for residents via District and Borough councils.
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Surrey council website.
Hertfordshire
In Hertfordshire, residents eligible for the HSF can benefit from:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Hertfordshire council website.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Council has laid out how it intends to use the HSF, with schemes including:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Staffordshire council website.
Coventry
In Coventry, vulnerable households can benefit from:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Coventry council website.
York
In York, there is currently one scheme running through the HSF:
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the York council website.
There are over 300 local authorities in the UK. For more information about what’s available in every area, the End Furniture Poverty charity offers a helpful assistance finder tool.
