Glossary · UK
What is Scottish Welfare Fund?
A devolved crisis and community-care grant scheme, run by Scottish local authorities, that provides one-off, non-repayable payments to people in financial hardship.
Full Definition
The Scottish Welfare Fund is a national scheme, funded by the Scottish Government but administered locally by each of Scotland's 32 local authorities, that provides discretionary, non-repayable grants to people facing a financial crisis or needing help to live independently in the community. It has two main elements: Crisis Grants, for people with little or no money because of an emergency or disaster (such as a fire, flood, domestic abuse situation, or a benefit payment being delayed or stopped), which are intended to cover short-term living expenses; and Community Care Grants, which help people to establish or remain in a settled home in the community -- for example someone leaving care, prison or a hospital stay, or an older or disabled person needing essential furniture or white goods to avoid being admitted to residential care. Unlike a loan, money from the Scottish Welfare Fund does not need to be repaid, and unlike most DWP benefits it is not means-tested in the same rigid way, with each local authority assessing applications against published guidance and a limited annual budget, meaning decisions and processing times can vary between council areas. It replaced the discretionary elements of the old UK-wide Social Fund (Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants) when welfare powers were devolved to Scotland in April 2013.