Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 31 December 2022

Applications

From October to December 2022, 90,455 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (67,410, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (23,045, Table 2).

There were 910 more Community Care Grant applications (+4%) than in the same quarter in 2021 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 32% increases in Clackmannanshire (from 225 to 300 applications) and South Ayrshire (from 270 to 355 applications) to a 35% decrease in Orkney (from 25 to 15 applications). Application numbers increased in 15 local authorities and decreased in 17 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2021, there were 1,105 more Crisis Grant applications (+2%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 94% increase in East Lothian (from 870 to 1,685) to 21% decreases in West Dunbartonshire (from 1,615 to 1,270 applications) and Highland (from 1,675 to 1,330 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 18 local authorities and decreased in 14 local authorities.

Chart 1: Applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund – Scotland – Monthly

During October to December 2022, ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ was the most common reason for Community Care Grant applications (8,375, 38% of applications), followed by ‘Helping people to stay in the community’ (6,305, 29%) and ‘Other reason’ (4,550, 21%) (Table 4, Chart 2).

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities received more applications for ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ and for ‘Other reason’ compared to pre-COVID levels (Table 4); this may be due to local authorities recording COVID-19 related applications in that way.

Chart 2: Reasons for Application – Community Care Grants - Quarterly

Note: “Caring for a prisoner/offender on temporary release” and “No information” are not shown – in the most recently quarter these accounted for 0% of applications.

During October to December 2022, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergency (54,815, 86% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (8,430, 13% of applications) (Table 6, Chart 3).

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (27,555, 43% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (6,140, 10% of all applications).

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly