Orkney Islands Council — Scottish Welfare Fund Information leaflet
IMAGE: The Orkney Islands Council logo, including the text “ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL”.
Introduction
The Scottish Welfare Fund provides two types of grants mainly available for people on a low income.
Crisis Grants - Providing you with a safety net in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Community Care Grants - Helping you to leave care and live on your own, or to continue living in your own home.
A Crisis Grant may help if...
You are - in crisis because of a disaster like a fire or flood, or an emergency such as losing all your money or having to visit a sick child in hospital.
You need - help with costs that have arisen as a result of the disaster or emergency, to keep you and your family safe from harm. If you qualify for a Crisis Grant, the help you receive will depend on the particular difficulties you face. You may be given money or another form of support, for example, goods or furniture.
How to apply - To find out if you are able to get a Crisis Grant or make an application, you should the Council’s Enterprise & Sustainable Regeneration Service, Revenues and Benefits Section – details are shown at the bottom of this leaflet.
A Community Care Grant may help if...
you are - about to leave care to live on your own in the community, for example after being in hospital or in prison, or face going into care because you don’t have the things you need to continue living at home. A Community Care Grant may also be able to help if you are struggling to provide a safe and secure home for your family.
you need - help to get essential household items like a cooker or washing machine but don’t have the money to buy it. As with the Crisis Grant, if you qualify for a Community Care Grant the help you receive will depend on your circumstances. You may be given money or you may receive support another way, for example, white goods or furniture.
How to apply - To find out if you are able to get a Community Care Grant or to make an application, you should the Council’s Enterprise & Sustainable Regeneration Service, Revenues and Benefits Section – details are shown at the bottom of this leaflet.
What about other welfare benefits?
Other benefits will stay the same and will still be dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions. This includes:
- Cold Weather Payments
- Winter Fuel Payments
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Support
The Department for Work and Pensions will also continue to offer support if you’re waiting for your first benefit payment and need an advance to help tide you over until the benefit is paid to you in full. First though, you need to be able to show you are entitled to benefit and that you will be able to repay the advance within three months. You will also have to show that you don’t have any other source of financial help.
Social Security Scotland also deliver a number of devolved benefits. These benefits are for families on low incomes, people who need help paying for a funeral, disabled people, carers, young people entering the workplace and to help people heat their homes. They include:
- Scottish Child Payment
- Funeral Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Young Carer Grant
- Job Start Payment
- Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
- Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
- Best Start Grant School Age Payment
- Best Start Foods
- Carer’s Allowance Supplement
The Scottish Welfare Fund
Help when you need it most
You can contact the Council about a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant in a number of ways.
Enterprise & Sustainable Regeneration Service – Revenues and Benefits Section, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY.
Tel: 01856 873535 Extension 2116
Email: swf@orkney.gov.uk
Online at www.orkney.gov.uk
June 2023