Community care grants & Crisis grants plus Foodbank referrals
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We are currently updating our page on the Scottish Welfare Fund. In the meantime we hope this basic info can be of help. This info only applies in Scotland.
The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) can give Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. You don’t have to pay these back. You apply through your local council. As well as grants the Scottish Welfare Fund can do foodbank referrals. To apply to the SWF, in Edinburgh ring 0131 529 5299 or apply online at the CEC page. Elsewhere in Scotland ring your local Council or look at their website.
If knocked back contact ECAP for support and pressure your local councillors.
The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) page on the SWF states:
“To apply for a grant you need to be – 16 or over – on a low income or receiving benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Pension Credit).”
So you can still be eligible even if not receiving benefits if you have a low income. More info on eligibility at CEC page. And more detailed info on eligibility in various sections of the SWF Statutory Guidance from the Scottish Government.
Don’t give up!
ECAP and Residents groups in Edinburgh have had success in supporting claimants for SWF grants by putting forward a case to the claimant’s local councillors. The SWF is administered by local authorities so councillors are ultimately responsible.
We have successfully chased up cases where there was a long delay in making a decision, and also succeeded in getting negative decisions overturned. Edinburgh councillors can be found here For other council areas look on the local council website.
SWF Statutory Guidance issued by the Scottish Government
This page last updated June 2024
