State pensioners in North Lincolnshire are being offered free energy‑efficient cooking appliances to help cut household energy bills during the colder months.
The support is being delivered through the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Household Support Fund, which is designed to help vulnerable households manage rising living costs.
North Lincolnshire Council is providing free air fryers, slow cookers and one‑cup kettles to eligible residents who have reached state pension age and live within the council area.
Deliveries began in September and applications remain open as the current funding round continues.
The Household Support Fund is scheduled to run until 31 March 2026, with the DWP allocating £742million to councils in England.
Local authorities decide how the money is distributed, meaning support varies significantly between areas.
The funding is intended to help with essential costs such as food, heating and other energy bills.
North Lincolnshire residents can apply through the council’s website or in person at community hubs in Ashby, Barton, Brigg, Crowle, Epworth and Scunthorpe, where staff are available to help with applications.
Each eligible household can receive one appliance, and those who have previously received one through the scheme cannot apply again.
A council spokesperson said: “We are pleased to be able to offer a free healthy cooking appliance to eligible residents in North Lincolnshire.”
North Lincolnshire residents can apply through the council’s website
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The scheme is intended to support healthier cooking while reducing energy use, with recipients also offered free healthy cooking sessions to help them make the most of their new appliance.
Air fryers and slow cookers are widely regarded as more energy‑efficient than conventional ovens, typically using less electricity to prepare meals.
Slow cookers are particularly suited to batch cooking, and energy supplier Utilita estimates they can save households around £112 a year.
One‑cup kettles heat only the water required, reducing wasted energy compared with boiling a full kettle.
The Household Support Fund is being used in different ways across England.
Councils have full discretion over eligibility criteria and the type of support offered.
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Some work with charities and community organisations to distribute help, while others limit support to one application per household within a set period.
In Staffordshire, households can receive a one‑off £300 payment sent directly to their energy provider.
Calderdale Council is offering up to £170 across two payments.
Nottingham City Council is providing £100 supermarket vouchers, while in Manchester households receiving Council Tax support and a disability benefit can access up to £130.
The Government says the fund is intended to provide flexible local assistance, with ministers arguing councils are best placed to identify need in their communities.
The support is designed to help pensioners through the winter amid the ongoing energy crisis
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GETTYThe DWP says the funding is targeted at those struggling most with essential costs, with pensioners among the groups considered at higher risk from rising energy bills.
The North Lincolnshire scheme is one of several initiatives aimed at easing financial pressure on vulnerable residents.
Councils have until March 2026 to spend their allocated funding, and residents are encouraged to check their local authority’s website for details, as eligibility rules and application processes differ widely.
North Lincolnshire Council says it will continue delivering appliances while funding remains available and is urging eligible residents to apply as soon as possible.