Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: annual update 2022-2023

Since the scheme began in April 2013, 510,375 unique households received at least one award from the Scottish Welfare Fund. More households have received a Crisis Grant (381,705, 75% of households who have received a grant) than a Community Care Grant (282,500, 55% of households who have received a grant) (Table 62a).

Since the scheme began in April 2013, over half of all awards have gone to single person households (52%), and over a fifth to single parent households (22%) (Table 62b, Chart 15). In comparison, the household estimates for Scotland indicate that 36% of households are occupied by a single person. Under a quarter of Scottish Welfare Fund awards have gone to couples, couples with children or other types of household (23%), whereas over half of households in Scotland are estimated to fall into these categories. In total around a third (35%) awards have gone to households containing children.

Chart 15: Household types of unique households receiving funds from the Scottish Welfare Fund 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2023