Scottish Welfare Fund statistics: update to 30 June 2022

From April to June 2022, 93,990 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (72,945, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (21,050, Table 2).

There were 1,555 fewer Community Care Grant applications (-7%) than in the same quarter in 2021 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 65% increase in Na h-Eileanan Siar (from 25 to 40 applications) to a 48% decrease in West Dunbartonshire (from 770 to 400 applications). Application numbers increased in nine local authorities and decreased in 23 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2021, there were 11,230 more Crisis Grant applications (+18%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 71% increase in East Renfrewshire (from 180 to 310) to a 15% decrease in Na h-Eileanan Siar (from 80 to 65 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 28 local authorities and decreased in 4 local authorities.

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

During April to June 2022, ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ was the most common reason for Community Care Grant applications (7,420, 35% of applications), followed by ‘Helping people to stay in the community’ (6,150, 29%) and ‘Other reason’ (4,485, 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 April to June 2022, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergency (61,105, 84% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (11,290, 15% of applications) (Table 6, Chart 3).

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (28,885, 40% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (9,170, 13% of all applications).

The overall increase in Crisis Grant applications compared to the same quarter of 2021 was predominantly accounted for by more applications for ‘Emergency’ reasons (8,270 more applications, +16%). At the same time, local authorities received more applications for ‘Disaster’ reasons (30 more applications, +6%), and ‘Other’ reasons (2,930 more applications, +35%), which may be where Covid-related cases are recorded by local authorities.

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly