Thousands of families can get up to £750 towards white goods or furniture – how to apply
STRUGGLING households this winter could get help with buying furniture or white goods.
The Sun has found one council offering upto £750 and we explain all the ways your family could get extra support.
Local councils, grants and furniture poverty charities are all willing to help households who are tight for cash. We explain how these schemes work.
Charities and organisations that can help
Research by End Furniture Poverty found one in five people live in an area where there is no local authority crisis support.
If you can’t access help towards furniture and white goods from your council, you may still find help from charities and organisations such as, and.
They offer grants towards items like washing machines or cookers if you cannot afford to buy or repair them, and this money doesn't need to be repaid.
Other charities like Glasspool Trust are able to dish out grants, but they cannot be applied for directly. You would need a support worker registered with the trust to make the application for you.
Likewise, Buttle UK can provide essential living packages to families in need but applications have to be made by support workers with the company.
Help from your landlord
If you reside in social housing and are on a low income or certain benefits, you should check whether you are in a furnished tenancy agreement.
If you are, your landlord will repair or replace an item that is not working properly.
Not every social landlord provides furnished tenancies, but it's worth double checking your agreement.
Help from the Household support scheme
The Household Support Scheme is running nationwide with a pot of £500million to be dished out.
The scheme is in its fourth month, and is due to end March 31. But some councils may run out of funding before this date so it's best to apply sooner rather than later.
For example, Rutland council is giving its vulnerable residents £100 cash, The Royal Borough of Greenwich is giving out £115 in cash and vouchers, and Nottinghamshire County Council is providing £30 vouchers.
The funding aims to act as a life ring for those who can't cope with costs over winter.
Thousands of families are feelings the effects of inflation which has caused energy, fuel and clothing costs to soar.
What's more, for those short of cash it's hard to pay for other living essentials like furniture and white goods that need repairing or replacing.
Haringey Council is one of the local authorities that is offering upto £750 free cash towards white goods and furniture, but not all councils are.
Each local authority has been given a different portion of the pot, and how they award the money is up to them.
Haringey Council has specified they’ll be giving either cash via a BACS payment, or vouchers towards essential bills or white goods and furniture.
Cash payments are aimed at helping families out of a state of emergency this winter.
The cost of living crisis means some are having to choose between heating and eating, or heating and clothing their children.
As a guide, low income means earnings of less than £500 per week for a family or £350 per week for an individual.
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Applications can be made by the applicant or their appointee, carer, advocate or a third party acting on their behalf.
Giving details of household income and savings are part of the application process, so be prepared to provide evidence and information.
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