Average wait time for the receipt of payments under the Scottish Welfare Fund: FOI release

Information requested

The average wait time, across Scotland, for individuals between applying for the Scottish Welfare Fund and receiving their payment.

Response

In the latest quarter from October to December 2018, the median average time from application date to the payment date recorded by local authorities was four working days for Community Care Grants and zero working days for Crisis Grants (meaning that on average Crisis Grants were paid on the same day that they were received). These figures include time to make any payments as part of reviews.

In many cases, the payment date recorded by local authorities will be the date that individual received their award – for example, where payments were made by cash or pre-paid card and collected by applicants on the same day, or where awards were made by same day transfer into bank accounts. However, for other types of award, and depending on the local authority, payment date could represent the date that goods were ordered from third party suppliers, the date that local authorities were invoiced by third party suppliers, or the date that vouchers were posted to applicants.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.