Crisis and community care grants

The Scottish Welfare Fund is a discretionary scheme administered by local authorities. The fund is split into crisis grants and community care grants. Any grant awarded is based on our assessment of your circumstances.

If you are on benefits or a low income and are having difficulty because of an exceptional situation or in meeting one-off expenses, the Scottish Welfare fund may help you.

Further support and guidance on benefits, debt and financial wellbeing is available to you and your family from our Money Matters Advice Service and Money is not the only problem webpage.

Crisis grants

Crisis grants can provide people with a safety net in the event of a disaster or emergency and can help with:

a crisis at home due to fire or flood
money being lost or stolen
transport costs to visit a sick child in hospital
escaping domestic abuse

Please note that if you qualify for a crisis grant, you may be given a cash grant or another form of support such as furniture, or a voucher for essential food, fuel, or clothing.

Community care grants

Community care grants can help people leaving care, hospital, or prison to live on their own, or to remain in their own home without having to go into care. These grants can also help families provide a safe and secure home by providing essential items such as:

cooker (delivered and installed)
bed.

We will carry out checks to make sure you need the items applied for. These checks can include:

getting information from other departments and agencies involved in representing your or helping you with your application
carrying out home visits before an award is made

Please note if you qualify for a community care grant, you will be given goods and not cash. Cash will only be given in the rare situation where we are unable to source an item. Items will not be replaced due to wear and tear unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Our related content pages will give you more information on who qualifies for these grants and how to apply.