Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: annual update 2022-2023

In 2022-23 the most common Community Care Grant expenditure remained on floor coverings, beds, bedding, and electrical appliances such as washing machines, cookers, fridges and freezers (Table 44).

In general, the most commonly awarded items and their proportions of the total number of items awarded have remained similar quarter to quarter (Table 43). The quantity of most items awarded has decreased in contrast with the overall slight increase in Community Care Grant awards in 2022-23 (Table 21), which may imply that awards are being given for a smaller variety of items overall.

As in previous years, the most common specified Crisis Grant awards were for food, essential heating expenses and other living expenses (Table 48). The amount spent on food decreased by 1% to £12.3 million in 2022-23, remaining the leading named Crisis Grant expenditure, and the amount spent on essential heating costs increased by 18% with a 3% increase in the number of awards, illustrating clearly the pressure felt in this area during the year. (Table 50).

The most common payment method for Community Care Grants remained provision of new goods (54% of payments, Table 52). Cash remained the most common payment method for Crisis Grants (44% of payments) (Table 54).

In 2022-23, 59% of Community Care Grant payments were made within one week, two percentage points higher than 2021-22, and a smaller proportion of payments were made within one to two weeks (Chart 11). Sixty-two percent of Crisis Grants were paid on the same day as all information being received which is one percentage point higher than 2021-22 (Chart 12).

Chart 11: Distribution of time to make Community Care Grant payments (comparing 2022-23 with 2021-22)

Chart 12: Distribution of time to make Crisis Grant payments (comparing 2022-23 with 2021-22)