Latest news with #ScottishWelfareFund
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Households Support Fund 2025: UK families urged to apply
The Household Support Fund where you are: Scotland In Scotland, support is provided through programs such as the Scottish Welfare Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. The Scottish Welfare Fund offers Crisis Grants for emergencies and Community Care Grants for essential household items. Additional cost-of-living support is distributed through local councils and targeted schemes such as the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which helps with energy costs. Eligibility and application processes vary but generally focus on low-income households and those receiving benefits. Wales Wales uses a combination of the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) and council-administered programs to assist struggling households. The DAF provides Emergency Assistance Payments (EAPs) for essential costs, such as food or energy, and Individual Assistance Payments (IAPs) for essential household items. The Welsh government has also introduced targeted cost-of-living payments and energy bill support. Applications for DAF are made online, by phone or via support agencies, with funding typically targeted at low-income individuals and families. Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, support is available through schemes like Discretionary Support Payments and Additional Financial Support Grants Discretionary Support Payments provide short-term financial aid for those in a crisis or emergency situation. Fuel support and cost-of-living payments have been implemented as part of broader government initiatives to tackle poverty and rising energy costs. Applications are made through the Department for Communities or local councils, and eligibility often depends on income and household circumstances.
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Households Support Fund 2025: UK families urged to apply
The Household Support Fund where you are: Scotland In Scotland, support is provided through programs such as the Scottish Welfare Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. The Scottish Welfare Fund offers Crisis Grants for emergencies and Community Care Grants for essential household items. Additional cost-of-living support is distributed through local councils and targeted schemes such as the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which helps with energy costs. Eligibility and application processes vary but generally focus on low-income households and those receiving benefits. Wales Wales uses a combination of the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) and council-administered programs to assist struggling households. The DAF provides Emergency Assistance Payments (EAPs) for essential costs, such as food or energy, and Individual Assistance Payments (IAPs) for essential household items. The Welsh government has also introduced targeted cost-of-living payments and energy bill support. Applications for DAF are made online, by phone or via support agencies, with funding typically targeted at low-income individuals and families. Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, support is available through schemes like Discretionary Support Payments and Additional Financial Support Grants Discretionary Support Payments provide short-term financial aid for those in a crisis or emergency situation. Fuel support and cost-of-living payments have been implemented as part of broader government initiatives to tackle poverty and rising energy costs. Applications are made through the Department for Communities or local councils, and eligibility often depends on income and household circumstances.
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Cost of living help from local councils for people on a low income
People working full-time may also be able to pause Council Tax payments to ease financial pressure. Families and individuals on a low income or income-related benefits may be able to get help from their local council. Councils across Scotland have funding to help people in financial need during the ongoing cost of living crisis and all you need to do is call and explain your situation. If you are on a benefit such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit, your council may be able to offer advice or check if you are missing out on any additional unclaimed benefits, discounts or redactions. Even if you don't claim any benefits, they may be able to help you. Something as simple as asking for your next Council Tax payment to be put on hold could provide immediate relief from money worries - just phone your local council and ask for help. Local authorities were able to support around 94,000 households on a low income with £89.3 million in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) in 2024/25, thanks to Scottish Government funding. The Scottish Government funds councils to use the payments to help people affected by the Bedroom Tax, the Benefit Cap, and other housing-related UK Government welfare reform policies. New figures published for April 2024 - March 2025 show that councils spent 99 per cent of the £74.8m budget for the Bedroom Tax, suggesting they were able to almost completely protect people from its effects. Local authorities spent £5 million mitigating the Benefit Cap, an increase of over 40 per cent on the previous year. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'Over the last 15 years, the Scottish Government has spent around £1.4 billion mitigating the impacts of UK Government policies such as the Bedroom Tax and Benefit Cap. 'This money could have been spent on services like health, education and transport, or on further ambitious anti-poverty measures, and would pay for around 3,000 teachers or 3,700 band 5 nurses each year. 'Under our Programme for Government we will spend £97 million this year to enable councils to use Discretionary Housing Payments to protect more than 94,000 households in Scotland against the worst impacts of harmful UK Government policies.' Ms Somerville warned: 'The UK Government's welfare cuts will force more families and children into poverty, according to its own figures. It is time for them to think again and abandon these harmful changes.' Every local council in Scotland has their own service with different rules and may be able to offer help with loans or grants, food vouchers, fuel vouchers and recycled clothes or household items - find your local council here. The Scottish Welfare Fund is also a good source of financial help which provides Community Care Grants, to help people live independently, and Crisis Grants, which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency. Community Care Grants You may be able to get a Community Care Grant if: you're leaving care or imprisonment and need help to start a settled home you've been homeless, or living an unsettled life, and need help to start a settled home you need support to stay out of care you're caring for someone who's been released from prison or a young offender's institution you're experiencing great pressure and need help to keep a settled home you're escaping domestic abuse a child's health is at risk Your income To get a Community Care Grant you need to be on a low income, but this does not mean you need to be on benefits. What counts as a low income There is no figure that confirms whether you have a low income. As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you can get a Community Care Grant: Income Support Pension Credit Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - Income based Universal Credit Your savings If you have savings of over £700, or £1,200 if you get a pension, you may be less likely to get a Community Care Grant - your local council will decide. Crisis Grants A Crisis Grant is a one-off payment that can provide much-needed cash during an emergency, but it cannot be given to support your income long-term. If you need help because you are on a low income, the quickest way to find out what financial support you may be able to claim is to use a benefits calculator. These are independent, free and confidential and only take a few minutes to complete online - you can find out more about ones from Turn2Us, Advice Direct Scotland and entitledto at the end of this article. If your total household income is £30,000 or less, you may be entitled to extra help, so don't dismiss using one of the benefits calculators because you think your income is above the threshold. What is a Crisis Grant? A Crisis Grant can be given to cover the costs of an emergency Examples of this could include when: there is a fire or flood at home you have lost money an unexpected crisis happens you are a victim of domestic abuse and you need help with things like moving away from an abuser you are a grandparent or other relative who has taken over caring for a child, and you're waiting on a transfer of benefits you are facing a gap in your normal income because of a redundancy or change at work Who is eligible for a Crisis Grant? To get a Crisis Grant you need to be on a low income, however, this does not mean you need to be currently claiming benefits. What counts as a low income Similar to the Community Care Grant, the Scottish Government explains there is "no figure that will be used to judge whether you have a low income". As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you will be able to get a Crisis Grant: Income Support Pension Credit Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Universal Credit What financial help is available? If you do get a Crisis Grant, your local council will look at helping you with your most urgent living costs. Some things this may include are help with the costs of: Food Heating costs Many local councils have welfare rights advisers who can: tell you what benefits and other entitlements are available carry out checks so you don't miss out on any benefits help you complete forms give advice and support if your application for a benefit is turned down or you do not get the amount you were expecting How to apply You can apply directly to your local council through the website here. Most councils will tell you the outcome of your application within two working days, however, this may take longer due to application caseload. Online benefits calculators You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out: What benefits you could get How to claim How your benefits will be affected if you start work These calculators are free to use, anonymous, and could indicate benefits you're missing out on. Where to find help Advice Direct Scotland This new online tool is the first to fully integrate devolved benefits, including Adult or Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Carer Support payment or Scottish Child Payment. It provides a free and impartial assessment of entitlement to a range of benefits such as Universal Credit, crisis grants and support payments. Turn2us Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours entitledto Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work What you will need You will need accurate information about your: Savings Income, including your partner's Existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you) Outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments) Council Tax bill
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
West Lothian's share of national welfare fund stays the same despite rising demands
A report to the council's Executive offered some comfort that the council can carry over around £500,000 from last year's emergency funding. West Lothian's share of the national Scottish Welfare Fund has been kept at last year's level despite an expected growth in applications and rising costs. A report to the council's Executive offered some comfort that the council can carry over around £500,000 from last year's emergency funding. Evidence from last year showed that tightening the qualification for payouts from the fund did nothing to reduce the numbers qualifying. This year West Lothian has received £1,134,538 to cover funding and £171,715 administration funding. The carry forward budget for 2025/26 will increase the programme funding starting position to approximately £1.7 million. Local authorities have administered the Scottish Welfare Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government since April 2013. The fund consists of two grants: Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Crisis Grants meet short term financial emergencies and Community Care Grants provide furniture for homes to help applicants set up or maintain their home. In her report to the Executive, Nahid Hanif, the Anti-Poverty Service manager said: 'There are currently no Crisis Grants outstanding for 2024/25 but at the time of drafting this report there were 98 Community Care Grants still to process. 'The amount spent in 2024/25 is £1,120,274 (not including the 98 CCG cases still to be assessed). It is estimated that from the additional monies provided by SG in December 2024, a carry forward of approximately £550,000 will be realised after the residual cases are processed.' Ms Hanif added: 'It is important to note that the administration budget provided by Scottish Government does not cover the cost of running the Scottish Welfare Fund scheme' In the last year the Scottish Government provided admin costs of £251,715 (this included a one-off £80,000 provided along with the additional funding in November). However the actual cost to council was £471,618, with £219,903 funded from council coffers. For a six week period in the Autumn and Winter last year qualifications for help were reclassified from High to High Most Compelling ( HMC) because of the pressure on funds. It was only after the Scottish Government stepped in in late November and pumped more money into the national fund that qualification rules were relaxed back to High. The qualification remains as High for this year's funding though this may have to be reviewed as the year progresses. Ms Hanif said: 'The move to HMC did not reduce the number of applicants who met the qualifying criteria to be considered for a grant. However, savings are made because the amount of financial support or household goods awarded on HMC is significantly restricted because the applicant needs to be severely vulnerable and at extreme risk of losing their tenancy, or there is a severe risk to them or their families well-being. 'In comparison, on High Priority the applicant only needs to be highly vulnerable therefore is more likely to be awarded a slightly higher financial award or receive more household goods.' The report added that other changes introduced last month also relax income rules for qualification, tying them to the numbers in a household, thus potentially giving more leeway in the application process. Councillors on the Executive agreed the report with comment.
Edinburgh Reporter
01-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Welfare fund award pegged at last year's level
West Lothian's share of the national Scottish Welfare Fund has been kept at last year's level despite an expected growth in applications and rising costs. A report to the council's Executive offered some comfort that the council can carry over around £500,000 from last year's emergency funding. Evidence from last year showed that tightening the qualification for payouts from the fund did nothing to reduce the numbers qualifying. This year West Lothian has received £1,134,538 to cover funding and £171,715 administration funding. The carry forward budget for 2025/26 will increase the programme funding starting position to approximately £1,700,000. Local authorities have administered the Scottish Welfare Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government since April 2013. The fund consists of two grants: Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Crisis Grants meet short term financial emergencies and Community Care Grants provide furniture for homes to help applicants set up or maintain their home. In her report to the Executive, Nahid Hanif, the Anti-Poverty Service manager said: 'There are currently no Crisis Grants outstanding for 2024/25 but at the time of drafting this report there were 98 Community Care Grants still to process. 'The amount spent in 2024/25 is £1,120,274 (not including the 98 CCG cases still to be assessed). It is estimated that from the additional monies provided by SG in December 2024, a carry forward of approximately £550,000 will be realised after the residual cases are processed.' Ms Hanif added: 'It is important to note that the administration budget provided by Scottish Government does not cover the cost of running the Scottish Welfare Fund scheme' In the last year the Scottish Government provided admin costs of £251,715 (this included a one-off £80,000 provided along with the additional funding in November). However, the actual cost to council was £471,618, with £219,903 funded from council coffers. For a six-week period in the Autumn and Winter last year qualifications for help were reclassified from High to High Most Compelling (HMC) because of the pressure on funds. It was only after the Scottish Government stepped in in late November and pumped more money into the national fund that qualification rules were relaxed back to High. The qualification remains as High for this year's funding though this may have to be reviewed as the year progresses. Ms Hanif said: 'The move to HMC did not reduce the number of applicants who met the qualifying criteria to be considered for a grant. However, savings are made because the amount of financial support or household goods awarded on HMC is significantly restricted because the applicant needs to be severely vulnerable and at extreme risk of losing their tenancy, or there is a severe risk to them or their families well-being. 'In comparison, on High Priority the applicant only needs to be highly vulnerable therefore is more likely to be awarded a slightly higher financial award or receive more household goods.' The report added that other changes introduced last month also relax income rules for qualification, tying them to the numbers in a household, thus potentially giving more leeway in the application process. Councillors on the Executive agreed the report with comment. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
