WIREDGOV

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

During the first six months of 2015/16, £16 million has been awarded through the Scottish Welfare Fund. This was 45% of the £35.3 million available for 2015/16, around two percentage points less than at the same time last year.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released statistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund covering the period from 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2015. The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises Community Care Grants – which help people to live independently – and Crisis Grants, which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency.

During the quarter of July to September 2015, 63% of Community Care Grant applications were successful. Around 10,900 awards were made, averaging around £570 per award. The awards were typically for floor coverings, white goods, and furniture.

The same quarter had 71% of Crisis Grant applications that were successful. Around 24,700 awards were made, averaging around £77 per award. For Crisis Grants, most expenditure was on food, essential heating costs and other living expenses.

Since the scheme began in April 2013, 178,000 unique households have been helped by the Scottish Welfare Fund, with awards totalling £81 million to 30 September 2015.

The figures released today were produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Notes To Editors

The full statistical publication is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf

This publication contains: an overview of who has been helped by the scheme; details on the processing times for applications; information on what the Scottish Welfare Fund has been spent on and household analyses. Local Authority analyses and details of the review process are also provided.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About

On 1 April 2013, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) abolished two elements of the Social Fund - Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans - and transferred funds previously spent on them to Scottish Ministers. In its place, the Scottish Government established the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF). The Scottish Welfare Fund is a national scheme run by Local Authorities, based on guidance from Scottish Ministers. The guidance has been developed in partnership with COSLA, Local Authorities and other stakeholders.