HOUSEHOLDS battling through the cost-of-living crisis could get money to pay for furniture and white goods.
There are a number of schemes designed to offer people support to buy household items such as fridges and sofas.
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The average annual household cost for energy bills is to rise to over £3,500 from October.
And households already struggling will be bracing for a tough winter.
But there is help on offer. Below, we list four ways you can get hold of financial help for household goods.
Council schemes
Some councils run schemes where struggling households can apply for money to buy white goods or furniture.
Haringey Council in London is one.
Its Support Fund is available to residents who have a low income, are facing unexpected costs or need help buying essential items.
Payments are usually made to eligible residents in voucher form or via a bank transfer.
Haringey Council offers up to £500-worth of help.
Some other councils, through the Household Support Fund, also offer help with white goods and furniture.
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Croydon Council is one, and Southend Borough Council in Essex is another.
The Household Support Fund is a central pot of money worth hundreds of millions which has been allocated to local councils by the UK government.
Local councils can decide how they want to distribute their share, and who to.
But the money is usually paid to vulnerable households who need extra help.
To check if you’re eligible, you should contact your local council.
If you don’t know which council area you fall under, you can use the government’s locator tool here.
Your landlord
If you live in social housing, your landlord may provide you with furniture and other white goods.
In some cases, a “furniture pack” is provided as part of your rent and is covered by the service charge part of housing benefit or Universal Credit that you’re on.
If you are living in a furnished tenancy and an item breaks or needs replacing through wear and tear, your landlord will repair or replace it.
However, not every social landlord offers furnished tenancies so you’re not guaranteed this support.
Charitable grants
There are a number of charitable organisations that offer grants to help vulnerable households.
Glasspool Trust offers grants for furniture, including flooring.
But you can’t apply for the help directly and a support worker has to be registered with the trust and make an application for you.
The Family Fund helps support vulnerable children and young people up to 18 who are in crisis or an emergency.
And the Smallwood Trust offers support for women living in “persistent poverty”.
This classes as someone who is in relative income poverty in the year of application and at least two of the three preceding years.
Pre-loved furniture
Reuse charities like the Reuse Network take in furniture from people who no longer need it and hand it out to struggling households.
The organisation even has a tool where you can find free furniture nearby.
There are other schemes as well.
The Devon and Cornwall Furniture Reuse Project also gives away furniture to people in need across the South West.
