Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 30 June 2024

From April to June 2024, 83,935 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (63,340, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (20,595, Table 2).

There were 1,255 fewer Community Care Grant applications (-6%) than in the same quarter in 2023 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 178% increase in Shetland (from 10 to 25 applications) to a 45% decrease in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 35 to 20 applications). Application numbers increased in 9 local authorities and decreased in 22 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2023, there were 180 more Crisis Grant applications (+0%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 147% increase in Orkney (from 20 to 45) to a 27% decrease in East Lothian (from 1,400 to 1,020 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 14 local authorities and decreased in 18 local authorities.

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

This chart shows time series of the numbers of applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019, separated into the two schemes

The most common reason for Community Care Grant applications was ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ (40% of applications) (Table 4, Chart 2). This is the highest value recorded under that category. The overall proportions of reasons has stayed broadly similar since 2020.

Chart 2: Reasons for Application – Community Care Grants - Quarterly

This chart shows time series of the proportions of different reasons for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019.

During April to June 2024, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergency (54,560, 86% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (8,260, 13% of applications) (Table 6, Chart 3). The ‘Other’ category increased greatly at the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and has persisted at a higher level since, at least partly due to unresolved changes in application processes.

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (27,675, 44% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (6,030, 10% of all applications).

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly

This chart shows time series of the proportions of different reasons for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund per quarter since April 2019.