Crisis and Community Care Grants - Scottish Welfare Fund

The Scottish Welfare Fund was introduced on 1^st April 2013 as part of changes to the UK Government’s Social Fund scheme. As a result of these changes, crisis loans and community care grants which were formerly managed by the Department of Work and Pensions have now stopped. The new replacement fund consists of crisis grants and community care grants and will be delivered locally by Dundee City Council based on guidance from the Scottish Government.

Crisis Grants can provide you with a safety net in the event of a disaster or emergency. A decision on a Crisis Grant application will be made after Scottish Welfare Fund has received all information allowing a decision to be made, and in any event, no later than the end of the next working day.

Community Care Grants can help you to leave care and live on your own, or to continue living in your own home. They can also help you maintain a settled home in the community in a situation where you, or another individual in the same household, is facing exceptional pressure. Decisions on Community Care Grants must be made within 15 working days after the local authority has received all the information allowing a decision to be made.

Note: A working day is defined as between 9.00am and 4.45pm. If an application is received after 4.45pm, it should be treated as being received on the next working day. A working day does not include weekend and bank/public holidays.

More details of Dundee City Council’s Scottish Welfare Fund scheme can be found in the leaflet Introducing the Scottish Welfare Fund. The Council use approved suppliers to fulfil successful applications. This means that our local suppliers will supply and fit any white goods awarded as well as delivering any sofas, beds, bedding or furniture awarded. In terms of carpets, vinyl and other floor coverings we currently work with four local suppliers who fulfil any successful applications, including supplying and fitting floorcoverings

Please see the Scottish Government's Guide to the Scottish Welfare Fund for more details on the scheme.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for a crisis grant or a community care grant online please click on the button.

You will need to allow pop ups to complete the application.

Apply for a Crisis/Community Care Grant

You can also make a telephone application by phoning 01382 431188.

The amount of funding each council gets to spend each year on the Scottish Welfare Fund is limited and, unfortunately, there is not enough money to help everyone who applies.  Your application will therefore be given a high, medium or low "priority rating" according to your individual circumstances and needs. There is also statutory guidance published by the Scottish Government which needs to be followed when applications are decided. 

December 2024 Update: Dundee City Council are currently operating on the high priority level for Crisis Grants and the high priority level for Community Care Grants for those applying to the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Grants will be awarded according to your priority rating and whether you have no alternative means of paying for what you need.  

The budget priority ratings for Dundee City Council are decided at the start of each month and can vary on a month to month basis depending on the money available.

If you disagree with a Community Care Grant or Crisis Grant decision you can ask for a review.  There are 2 stages to the review process, a 1st tier review must be put in writing to:-

Dundee City Council
Scottish Welfare Fund
Dundee House
50 North Lindsay Street
Dundee
DD1 1QE

• cold weather payments
• winter fuel payments
• budgeting loans (these will be known as budgeting advances under universal credit)
• short-term advances of benefit