Jump in Scottish Government crisis grant payments

The amount being paid out in crisis grants by the Scottish Welfare Fund has increased by more than a third, Scottish ministers said today.

The fund paid out a total of £3.2m in crisis grants between July and September 2019, 34% more than the same period the previous year.

Crisis grants, paid through local authorities, help families on low incomes with unexpected expenses arising out of an emergency or a disaster. The most common reason given by families for applying for emergency funding was because their benefits or other income had been spent – up 33% on the previous year.

From July to September 2019, there were 51,715 applications for crisis grants, a 16% increase on the same quarter in 2018; 51,405 applications were decided and 33,275 awards were made, a 65% acceptance rate.

Community care grants are also available, to help those on low incomes to live independently in the community or people to maintain their home in the face of exceptional pressure. From July to September 2019, there were 19,220 applications, 10% up on 2018. The main reason for applications remained "Families facing exceptional pressure" (36% of applications). Local authorities awarded £6.1m in total, 3% more than the same quarter last year, with an average award value of £581.

The benefit freeze and benefit cap are now in their fourth year. and estimates suggest the UK Government’s social security spending in Scotland will reduce by £3.7bn per year by 2021. 

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville commented: "The large increase in people applying for emergency funding shows how much those on low incomes are struggling just to make ends meet.

"The Scottish Government will not stand by and let people who are already in need continue to face a reliance on food banks and the stress of debt and rent arrears."

She said the Government was spending over £100m each year to mitigate the worst effects of the UK Government welfare cuts, "money we should be able to invest elsewhere to help pull people out of poverty".