Scottish Welfare Fund: statutory guidance May 2019

Annex C - Factors That Might Increase The Vulnerability Of An Applicant

Some examples of factors that could contribute to a vulnerability which would give an application higher priority are set out below.  This is not an exhaustive list and should not be used rigidly as a prioritisation list.

• Frailty or old age, particularly restricted mobility or difficulty performing personal care tasks
• Learning difficulties
• Poor literacy or numeracy skills
• Mental health issues
• Physical impairment or disability, including sensory impairments
• Chronic illnesses
• Terminal illnesses
• Addictions or misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances
• Being an person with a conviction 
• People fleeing domestic abuse
• People facing non-domestic abuse
• Being a young person affected by the UK Government’s changes, from 1 April 2017, to entitlement to housing costs within Universal Credit for 18-21 year olds
• Being a young person leaving local authority care or a special residential school
• Being a young person who does not have parents or is unable to live with their parents because it would put them in danger or they have become estranged
• Looking after children for a relative or friend as a kinship carer
• Being a lone parent
• Children living with young parents aged under 25
• Children living with a disabled adult
• Children living in a large family with three or more children
• Experiencing separation, relationship or family breakdown
• Being a family who has been judged to be facing exceptional pressure
• Being pregnant, recent childbirth or adopting a child
• Having responsibility as a main care giver
• Homelessness, or repeated homelessness or under threat of homelessness
• Repeated failed tenancies
• Having an unsettled way of life (living in hostels, sofa-surfing, not having your own address)
• Experiencing eviction or re-possession
• Experiencing redundancy
• Leaving the armed forces
• A history of insecure work
• Being recently bereaved (immediate/close family member/spouse/partner)
• Being a Refugee