Scottish Welfare Fund

What it is 

The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) provides support to households most in need. 

It is managed by local councils and is made up of: 

  • Community Care Grants – which help people to live independently 
  • Crisis Grants - which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency 

How to apply 

Visit the mygov.scot website to apply through your local council. 

Guidance for local councils 

Individual councils make decisions based on national guidance, as set out in: Scottish Welfare Fund: statutory guidance. 

How budgets are set 

Funding for SWF is allocated to local councils, based on local poverty levels set out in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Details of allocations and spend can be found in the below quarterly statistics. 

Statistics 

We publish statistics on Scottish Welfare Fund applications and awards. 

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