Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 30 September 2024

From July to September 2024, 79,495 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (59,675, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (19,820, Table 2).

There were 3,115 fewer Community Care Grant applications (-14%) than in the same quarter in 2023 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 50% increase in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 20 to 30 applications) to a 42% decrease in Moray (from 220 to 125 applications). Application numbers increased in 8 local authorities and decreased in 24 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2023, there were 6,250 fewer Crisis Grant applications (-9%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 139% increase in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 35 to 80) to a 38% decrease in East Lothian (from 1,385 to 865 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 8 local authorities and decreased in 24 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’ (43% of applications) (Table 4, Chart 2). This is the highest value recorded under that category, mainly caused by a sharp drop in ‘Other’ reasons.

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 July to September 2024, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergencies (53,030, 89% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (6,125, 10% 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. Recent changes however have at least partially dealt with these issues.

Within the ‘Emergency’ category, the most common reason was ‘benefit/income spent’ (27,090, 45% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (3,795, 6% 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.