Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 31 December 2023

From October to December 2023, 80,170 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund were received (Table 1). The majority were for Crisis Grants (59,780, Table 3), and a smaller number were for Community Care Grants (20,390, Table 2).

There were 3,540 fewer Community Care Grant applications (-15%) than in the same quarter in 2022 (Table 2, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from 30% increase in West Dunbartonshire (from 590 to 765 applications) to a 62% decrease in Na-h Eileanan Siar (from 40 to 15 applications). Application numbers increased in 6 local authorities and decreased in 26 local authorities.

Compared to the same quarter in 2022, there were 8,265 fewer Crisis Grant applications (-12%) (Table 3, Chart 1). At local authority level the percentage change in applications varied from a 55% increase in West Dunbartonshire (from 1,270 to 1,975) to a 35% decrease in Dundee (from 2,545 to 1,385 applications). Crisis Grant applications increased in 6 local authorities and decreased in 26 local authorities.

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

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

During October to December 2023, the most common reasons for Crisis Grant applications were different types of emergency (49,255, 82% of applications), followed by ‘Other’ reasons (10,025, 17% 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’ (24,260, 41% of applications). Within the ‘Other’ category, the most common reason was ‘Other – please specify’ (10,220, 17% of all applications).

Chart 3: Reasons for Application – Crisis Grants – Quarterly