Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now

The Sun

2 days ago

HARD-UP families can get free washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 towards the cost of energy this summer.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) - a giant £742million fund available to councils in England.
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Councils have until March 31, 2026, to allocate their share of this fund to residents in need.
Support is usually offered to those on a low income, benefits or classed as vulnerable.
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is offering thousands of hard-up households a range of help based on their needs.
Some can get £200 towards the cost of gas and electricity while others can get help paying for food.
Meanwhile, some can get help covering the cost of white goods such as washing machines and fridges, and single beds for children.
Blackburn with Darwen Council wouldn't say how much the average price of a white good someone will receive might be.
However, Which? says the average price of a fridge freezer is £800, so you could save yourself a fair amount by applying.
Households requesting help with white goods must be referred to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council by a professional.
The council said this referrer might be someone from adult services, charity Age UK or children's services.
You'll need to be of a limited income to apply for help through the fund. The criteria you must meet is:
How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills
Single Adult in Work: Your household income must be below £26,057 (before tax and National Insurance)
Two or More Adults in Work: Your household income must be below £38,870 (before tax and National Insurance)
Your household savings must be under £2,000
If you're a pensioner, you can have savings up to £16,000
It's worth noting, if you've received a white goods item in the last 12 months from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, you cannot apply for help with white goods this round.
More details about the HSF scheme and how to apply are on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's website - www.blackburn.gov.uk/cost-living-support/household-support-fund.
Councillor Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The Household Support Fund is there to support those people who are really struggling with the cost of living.
"In addition to funding for a variety of things, residents can also access financial advice to help them with reducing their household outgoings and improving their income.
"Anyone living in Blackburn with Darwen can apply and although there is some eligibility criteria to meet, we're keen to remind people that the Household Support Fund is open to applications from people who are in work, as well as those who are not."
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended.
The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026.
If you live outside the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council area, it's worth checking if you qualify for help via the HSF where you live.
You might be able to get free grants to cover energy bills or supermarket vouchers to spend on food.
Find out what council area you fall under by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
How else to get free white goods
It's not just through the Household Support Fund you can get help with the costs of white goods.
Here are some other avenues to get help.
Council schemes
Some councils run schemes to cover the cost of white goods.
For example, Norfolk County Council has a Client Hardship Service (CHS) offering second-hand and new appliances to hard-up households.
To get help you'll need to be aged 16 or older, live in Norfolk and be claiming a means-tested benefit like Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Council provides those who are resettling or moving out of temporary accommodation with basic furniture and white goods.
Use the government's council locator tool, which we've shown above, to find out if your local authority offers any white good-based support and eligibility criteria.
Many local councils have local assistance funds providing essential furniture and white goods too.
For example, Waltham Forest Council, in London, offers struggling households vouchers to pay for essentials like bedding, household goods and furniture.
You'll need to prove you don't have savings which could be used to cover the cost of these goods and must be aged 16 or over.
North Yorkshire Council also offers households facing financial hardship help.
Under the scheme, households can replace broken appliances free of charge, as well as access help buying food, clothing, beds and bedding.
You'll need to provide proof of why you need extra support.
Grants for those in specific jobs
You might be able to get help covering the cost of white goods if you've worked for a specific company.
One of the biggest schemes out there is the BT Benevolent Fund, which is for anyone who works at BT or has worked there before, including pensioners and dependants.
You can apply for the BT Benevolent Fund on the scheme's website.
Another is the Insurance Charities, which can be accessed by anyone who has worked in the insurance sector for at least five years.
If a parent or primary carer has worked within the fashion and textile industry for at least one year within the past nine years, they can apply for grants to buy white goods through the Fashion and Textile Children's Trust.
This includes working in a supermarket or shop with a clothes range such as Mothercare. The average amount paid is £515.
Lastly, the Veteran's Charity supports those who have worked in the armed forces facing hardship.
The charity can provide small and large white goods to help those battling hardship and distress.
Charity grants
Buttle UK is a charity for children, young people, their families, and carers offering grants worth up to £2,000.
Support packages include money for essential items, including beds and cookers, and help for children's emotional, social, and educational needs.
Meanwhile, Family Fund supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children.
They provide grants for several things, including washing machines, bedding, and furniture.
The grants are paid through specific suppliers and can be used for the total cost of new items or a discount on the cost.
The exact amount given varies in each individual case.
For those in England and Scotland, kitchen goods are supplied by the website AO.
For those in Wales, grants are supplied by Argos, and for those in Northern Ireland, the supplier is Vision Sales.
Charity Glasspool also provides grants to help people buy white goods, bedding, and items for children and babies.
There are no specific eligibility requests for this charity, but it says it expects anyone applying to have already made an application for local welfare schemes.