Scottish Welfare Fund statistics: update to 30 June 2022

During April to June 2022, a larger proportion of Crisis Grants applications and awards were repeats (70% and 61%, respectively), compared to Community Care Grants (30% and 14%, respectively) (Tables 40-43, Chart 11).

Compared to the same quarter in 2021, rates of repeat Community Care Grant applications were unchanged, while rates of repeat awards were lower (-2 percentage points). The rates of repeat Crisis Grant applications and awards were also lower (each by -3 percentage points).

The rates of repeat Crisis Grant applications and awards remain higher than any quarter before the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased rates of repeat applications and awards may be due individuals continuing to experience financial hardship, at least partly due to the increased cost of living, and due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Chart 11: Repeat applications and awards for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants – Quarterly