Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 31 December 2022

Repeat Applications and Awards

During October to December 2022, a larger proportion of Crisis Grants applications and awards were repeats (67% and 63%, respectively), compared to Community Care Grants (28% and 13%, respectively) (Tables 40-43, Chart 11).

Compared to the same quarter in 2021, the rates of repeat applications and awards for Community Care Grants fell by two and three percentage points respectively. Crisis Grants repeat applications fell by two percentage points, while repeat Crisis awards increased by one percentage point.

The rates of repeat Crisis Grant applications and awards remain higher than any quarter before the COVID-19 pandemic, although they have declined recently. 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