Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 31 December 2024

From October to December 2024, 73,955 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (55,865, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (18,090, Table 2).

There were 3,190 fewer Community Care Grant applications (-15%) than in the same quarter in 2023 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 81% increase in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 15 to 30 applications) to a 47% decrease in North Lanarkshire (from 1,475 to 790 applications). Application numbers increased in 10 local authorities and decreased in 22 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2023, there were 4,180 fewer Crisis Grant applications (-7%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 64% increase in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 40 to 70) to a 30% decrease in Dundee (from 1,385 to 975 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 6 local authorities and decreased in 25 local authorities.

Chart 1: Applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund – Scotland – Monthly
This chart shows time series of the numbers of applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019, separated into the two schemes.


The most common reason for Community Care Grant applications is ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ (38% of applications); this has been most common since 2020. (Table 4, Chart 2).

Chart 2: Reasons for Application – Community Care Grants - Quarterly
This chart shows time series of the proportions of different reasons for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019


During October to December 2024, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergencies (47,610, 85% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (7,790, 14% of applications) (Table 6, Chart 3). The ‘Other’ category increased greatly at the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and has persisted at a higher level since, at least partly due to unresolved changes in application processes. Recent changes however have at least partially dealt with these issues, although the increase in ‘Other’ in the most recent quarter remains unresolved.

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (25,480, 46% of applications).

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly
This chart shows time series of the proportions of different reasons for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019.