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Grants and help for white goods

Help replacing a broken washing machine, fridge or cooker on a low income — in the order that costs you least.

Written by the benefitmoney.co.uk editorial team · Last reviewed 9 September 2026

In rough order of cost to you — work down this list, not up it:

1. Your council’s crisis schemegrantUsually a grant, nothing to repay. How it works
2. A charity grantgrantNothing to repay. Where to look
3. A Budgeting Advance or Budgeting Loaninterest-freeInterest-free, but repaid from your benefits.
4. A credit unionInterest capped by law. Full detail

1. Your local council

The first place to try, because it is the only one that usually gives you the money outright.

In England this is now called the Crisis and Resilience Fund on GOV.UK. Your council may still use the old name Household Support Fund, or a local name of its own. Scotland has the Scottish Welfare Fund, Wales the Discretionary Assistance Fund, and Northern Ireland Discretionary Support.

GOV.UK lists essential items among what these schemes cover, and says two things worth knowing before you apply:

You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Source: GOV.UK — Get help with the cost of living from your local council↗. Checked 9 September 2026. Full detail on this scheme

2. Budgeting Advance, if you are on Universal Credit

White goods are explicitly on the list. GOV.UK names “household items such as a cooker, washing machine or vacuum cleaner” among the things a Budgeting Advance can pay for.

• Interest-free — you repay only what you borrow, over 24 months, from your Universal Credit
• You need 6 months on Universal Credit, ESA or Pension Credit, unless the item is needed to start or stay in work
• You cannot have one if a previous Budgeting Advance is still being repaid
• You are not eligible if you earned over £2,600 in the past 6 months (£3,600 for a couple)

Full detail: Budgeting Advance

3. Budgeting Loan, on legacy benefits

If you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, this is the equivalent — and GOV.UK uses the phrase itself: “furniture or household items (for example, washing machines or other ‘white goods’)”.

Same amounts, interest-free, repaid over 2 years. Not available if you are on Universal Credit.

Full detail: Budgeting Loan

4. Charity grants

Grants from charities do not have to be repaid. Two starting points:

Turn2us Grants Search

A free online tool that matches you to grants based on your circumstances. Turn2us describes it as connecting you to over 1,700 UK organisations that offer grants — money that does not need to be repaid. It is at grants-search.turn2us.org.uk.

Source: turn2us.org.uk. Checked 9 September 2026.

Family Fund

Grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person on a low income. Family Fund’s own application guidance says you must be the parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 24, and notes that age restrictions vary by grant programme.

To qualify, the child must need a high level of support in at least three of seven key areas — personal care, access to social activities, education, communication, supervision and vigilance, medical or therapeutic treatment, and physical environment and specialist resources. The household must be on a low income, normally evidenced by a qualifying benefit. Grants are not available for children or young people in local authority care, with limited exceptions.

Source: familyfund.org.uk — Are we eligible? and Can I apply?↗ Checked 9 September 2026.

Local charities and housing associations

Some help their own tenants or their own area. You will normally need to show you are on a low income or benefits and that the appliance is essential.

5. If none of that fits

• Credit union loans — interest capped by law at 3% a month in Great Britain, 1% a month in Northern Ireland, and assessed on affordability rather than a credit score. Cheaper than anything commercial.
• Some housing associations run their own furniture and appliance schemes for tenants — ask yours directly.

Before you apply, gather this

Applications move faster when you have it ready:

• Proof of income and any benefits
• Evidence the appliance has failed — a photo, or a repair quote showing it is not worth fixing
• Rough cost of a replacement
• Your council’s reference for any previous application, if you have made one

Frequently asked questions

This page is independent. It is not run by any local council, charity, the Department for Work and Pensions or GOV.UK.