Benefit Spotlight: Scottish Welfare Fund

Anyone aged 16 or older who is on a low income, OR getting certain benefits, can apply for a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund.

There are different grants you can apply for depending on your circumstances. You do not need to pay these grants back.

These are available if you have a disaster or emergency and need help to keep yourself or your family safe from harm.

Crisis grants maybe available if you:-

have a fire or flood at home
are visiting a sick child in hospital
move away from an abusive partner
have lost all your money or been a victim of theft or fraud
are a grandparent taking on caring responsibilities and waiting for benefits to be transferred across.

Crisis grants should be processed within two days. These are one-off payments and cannot support your income long term.

Community Care grants maybe available if you:

are about to leave care to live on your own in the community
face going into care because you don’t what you need to continue living at home
require help because you are struggling to provide a safe and secure home for yourself or your family
need help to get essential household items like a cooker or washing machine and don’t have the money to buy them
you’re caring for someone who has been released from prison or a young offenders’ institute

Community Care grants should be processed within 21 days.

Alternatively you can apply over the phone on 01389 737640.

Phone lines are open from 9am – 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 3:30 pm on a Friday.

Crisis grants will be paid via a Paypoint.

If you have savings of over £700, or £1,200 if you get a pension, you’ll be less likely to get a Community Care Grant.

West Dunbartonshire Council will decide.

The information in this article was accurate at time of publication in March 2023