WIREDGOV

Providing financial help in uncertain times.

A total of 316,095 low income households have accessed emergency funding to help with the costs of essentials such as food and heating since 2013.

Over £181 million has now been paid out from the Scottish Welfare Fund, which helps people during times of crisis to buy everyday essential items like food, nappies or toiletries and to cover heating costs or other living expenses. Grants are also given to people facing disaster or emergency situations, such as flooding as well as helping families facing exceptional pressure with one-off costs for items such as a washing machine or cooker.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville yesterday said:

“The fact that nearly a third of a million households in Scotland have required help from the Scottish Welfare Fund is a sad indictment of the UK Government’s record on welfare cuts.

“While it is absolutely right that we should help those individuals and families who find themselves in dire financial straits, it is appalling that so many find themselves in that position in the first place.

“The figures also highlight the very real consequence of the UK Government’s maladministration of UK benefits system. Delays and errors in payments are forcing people to turn to the Scottish Welfare Fund to get them through immediate hardship.

“That is why we will provide local authorities with £33 million in the next financial year – to support hard pressed families who, through no fault of their own, need help to simply get by.”

Background

The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of two grants:

Community Care Grant - aims to, among other things, help people set up home in the community, or help families facing exceptional pressures.

Crisis Grant – aims to help people on a low income who are in crisis because of a disaster or an emergency. A disaster is something like a fire or a flood. An emergency might be when money has been stolen.

Statistics show that from 1 July to 30 September, 9,495 Community Care Grants and 28,950 Crisis Grants were made by local authorities, with the most common expenditure for a community care grant being floor coverings, beds and bedding, and kitchen appliances such as cookers, fridges, freezers and washing machines. For crisis grants, awards were for food, essential heating and other living expenses. This takes the total number of households helped to 316,095 since 2013 when the Fund was established.

Since the scheme began over half of those households receiving awards were single person households with no children, and one third of those households included children.

The Draft Scottish Budget for 2019/20 commits £33 million to the Scottish Welfare Fund for grants, and £5 million is provided to local authorities for administration.