Household support fund: Thousands of homes could get air fryers or up to £300 – how to apply
Household support fund: Thousands of homes could get air fryers or up to £300 – how to apply
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Some councils are even using funds to ‘replace’ lost winter fuel payments. 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.
![[The UK has experienced severe weather in January, driving up the cost of energy bills]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/07/09/SEI235243487.jpg)
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.
