Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 30 June 2023

During April to June 2023, a larger proportion of Crisis Grants applications and awards were repeats (74% and 65%, respectively), compared to Community Care Grants (30% and 14%, respectively) (Tables 40-43, Chart 11).

Compared to the same quarter in 2022, the rates of repeat applications and awards for Community Care Grants were unchanged. Crisis Grants repeat applications and awards both increased by three percentage points.

The rates of repeat Crisis Grant applications and awards declined slightly after the highs seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the most recent quarter have reached a new high. 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 the lingering impacts of COVID-19.

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