Discretionary Housing Payments in Scotland: 1 April 2024 to 30 September2024

Official statistics show that, as of 30 September 2024, local authorities had spent or committed 88% (£79.3 million) of the £90.5 million estimated total funding for 2024-25. There was considerable variation across local authorities: the largest proportion of initial funding allocation spent in Falkirk (101%) and the smallest was in Na h-Eileanan Siar (66%), although they have only been able to provide estimated figures. Orkney Islands at 67% show the lowest proportion of expenditure where figures are not estimated (Table 4 and Chart 5).

At the same point last year local authorities had spent or committed 91% of the £83.7 million funding for 2023-24.

There was also a collective underspend of £857,326 in 2023-24, which was carried over and shared between local authorities for 2024-25.

Chart 5: Proportion of estimated 2024-25 funding spent as at 30 September 2024