This service is managed by Finance
Scottish welfare fund
We administer the Scottish Welfare Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. It provides grants to people on benefits or a low income who need urgent financial help. There are two types of grant.
Crisis Grants
A Crisis Grant provides a safety net if you are facing an emergency or disaster. You may be eligible if you are in crisis because of something like a fire, flood, or sudden loss of money, and need help to keep yourself and your family safe from harm.
If you qualify, the help you receive will depend on your circumstances. You may receive money, or another form of support such as a voucher, fuel card, travel ticket or furniture.
Related resources
-
Crisis grant information leaflet
This document contains information about Orkney Islands Council’s Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants, which can help people on low incomes with short-term living costs after an emergency, or with living costs and household items after a disaster. It explains who can apply, how to apply, reasons an application may be refused, how awards are assessed and paid, and the right to request a review within 20 working days. It also gives contact details for more information.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
-
Crisis grant case examples
This document contains examples of applications for Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants and explains when support may be available. Grants can help with urgent short-term living costs after an emergency, or essential items following a disaster, where there’s a serious risk to health or safety. The guide also shows how applications may be prioritised and lists excluded costs, such as debts, ongoing expenses, holidays and needs outside the United Kingdom. Examples are for guidance only and don’t guarantee the same decision in another case.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Community Care Grants
A Community Care Grant helps people to leave care and live independently, or to continue living in their own home. You may be eligible if you are about to leave care - for example after being in hospital or prison - or if you are at risk of going into care because you lack the things you need to live at home. A grant may also help if you are struggling to provide a safe home for your family or need essential household items such as a cooker or washing machine.
As with a Crisis Grant, if you qualify the help will depend on your individual circumstances and may be in money or another form of support.
Related resources
-
Community care grant information leaflet
This document contains information about Orkney Islands Council’s Scottish Welfare Fund Community Care Grants, which can help people move into or stay in the community, set up home, support families under exceptional pressure, or care for someone released from prison. It explains who may apply, including people aged 16 or over on a low income, and who cannot apply. It also covers how applications are assessed and paid, processing times, appeals and contact details.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
-
Community care grant case examples
This document contains examples of Community Care Grant applications and the types of decisions that may be made. It covers help for people leaving care, remaining independent, setting up home after homelessness, families facing exceptional pressures, and people caring for someone released from prison. It also lists items and costs the grant cannot cover, and explains that each application is assessed on the applicant’s circumstances and needs.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
If you have questions about your application, contact the Scottish Welfare Fund team:
Scottish welfare fund
Reviewing a decision
If you are unhappy with the outcome of your application for either type of grant, you can ask us to review the decision. If you remain unhappy after our review, you can ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to carry out an independent review.
Related resources
-
Scottish welfare fund information leaflet oic
This document contains information about the Scottish Welfare Fund, which offers grants mainly to people on low incomes. Crisis Grants can help with costs after an emergency or disaster, while Community Care Grants can support people leaving care or setting up or staying in a safe home. It also explains other benefits provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland, and how to contact Orkney Islands Council to apply.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
-
Scottish welfare fund policy
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s policy for Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. It explains who may qualify, what the grants can cover, excluded needs, how to apply, and how income and savings are assessed. It also sets out decision times, payment arrangements, spending limits, and the review and complaints process.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
-
mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund(opens in new tab)