Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 30 September 2022

Applications

From July to September 2022, 90,685 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (68,065, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (22,620, Table 2).

There were 640 more Community Care Grant applications (+3%) than in the same quarter in 2021 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 31% increases in South Ayrshire (from 270 to 355 applications) and Stirling (from 320 to 415 applications) to a 21% decrease in Midlothian (from 330 to 260 applications). Application numbers increased in 16 local authorities and decreased in 16 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2021, there were 8,520 more Crisis Grant applications (+14%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 52% increase in East Lothian (from 910 to 1,385) to a 16% decrease in Orkney (from 25 to 20 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 25 local authorities and decreased in 7 local authorities.

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

During July to September 2022, ‘Families facing exceptional pressure’ was the most common reason for Community Care Grant applications (8,445, 38% of applications), followed by ‘Helping people to stay in the community’ (5,860, 26%) and ‘Other reason’ (5,060, 23%) (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.

The drop in Crisis Grants seen during July 2022 was likely due to the arrival of cost of living payments.

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 July to September 2022, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergency (56,280, 85% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (9,430, 14% of applications) (Table 6, Chart 3).

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (27,215, 41% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (7,100, 11% 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 (6,165 more applications, +12%).

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly