Expenditure on crisis grants in Scotland up by more than 20 per cent compared to same period last year

New statistics also report an increase in awards made to people coming from less deprived areas, possibly indicating a change in the demographic profile of applicants as a result of Covid-19

Expenditure on crisis grants in Scotland has increased by more than 20 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest statistics from the Scottish Government.

In Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 30 September 2020, the Scottish Government provides information on applications for, and expenditure on, community care grants and crisis grants and reports that, during the second quarter of 2020/2021- 

• 20,570 applications were made for community care grants - up 5 per cent on the equivalent quarter in 2019;
• expenditure on community care grants totalled £6.3 million - 4 per cent more than the previous year - with an average award of £592;
• 58,895 applications were made for crisis grants - up 14 per cent on the equivalent quarter in 2019; and
• expenditure on crisis grants totalled £3.8 million - 21 per cent more than the previous year - with an average award of £99.

In addition, the Scottish Government observes that, in the latest quarter of data, there has been an increase in awards made to people in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles three to six relative to those in the most deprived areas (decile one). This, the Scottish Government speculates, could indicate a change in the demographic profile of Scottish Welfare Fund applicants due to the impacts of Covid-19 putting a wider range of people under financial pressure.

For more information see Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: update to 30 September 2020 from gov.scot