Service Update
The Scottish Welfare Fund will be closed on:
- 25, 26, and 27 December 2024.
- 1, 2, and 3 January 2025.
Crisis Grant applications submitted during this time will be processed as follows:
- Applications made between 25-27 December will be treated as submitted on Monday, 30 December 2024, and processed within 4 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays)
- Applications made between 1-3 January will be treated as submitted on Monday, 6 January 2025, and processed within 4 working days
Community Care Grant applications submitted during these closures will be processed as follows:
- Applications made between 25-27 December will be treated as submitted on Monday, 30 December 2024, and processed within 24 working days
- Applications made between 1-3 January will be treated as submitted on Monday, 6 January 2025, and processed within 24 working days
For applications submitted before the public holiday closures:
- Crisis Grants are currently processed within 4 working days.
- Community Care Grants are currently processed within 24 working days.
Please note: Processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications. Weekends and public holidays are excluded from these timescales.
The Scottish Welfare Fund provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes by providing Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Scottish Welfare Fund awards are not loans, so you don't need to pay it back. The grants are designed to help people who are on a low income, so you can apply even if you don’t claim benefits.
Crisis Grants
These grants are in place to help you cope with the unexpected expenses and disasters that life throws at us when we least expect it.
Community Care Grants
These grants are in place to help vulnerable people set up home, or continue to live independently within their community. There must be a severe and immediate need and you would face significant adverse consequences if you were not awarded a grant.
