Crisis grants hit record high over lockdown
The Scottish Welfare Fund made 695 of crisis grant payments to people in Stirling in the last financial quarter – an increase of 48% on last year – to help pay for essentials such as food, heating costs, and household necessities.
Latest figures show that the Scottish Welfare Fund has paid out a total of 14,355 to households in Stirling since it was established in 2013.
The Scottish Welfare Fund awarded £5.2 million in crisis grants across Scotland between April and June 2020, up 77 per cent on the same period last year – after Scottish Government increased the amount of funding available for the fund.
SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said:
“The Scottish Welfare Fund is an important example of the kind of action the SNP has taken to ensure there is additional financial support in place for people in Stirling coping with the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This vital support stands in stark contrast to what is happening at Westminster, with Tory MPs voting to deprive children of free school meals, and robbing Scotland of crucial funding to support our most vulnerable.
“While the Scottish Government works to improve provision for families in Stirling facing poverty, we continue to have to spend money to protect the most vulnerable in our communities from UK government benefit cuts.
“For as welfare decisions remain at Westminster, the SNP will continue to do everything in our power to tackle poverty and support people in Stirling to get through this challenging time.”
Notes:
| Local Authority | Apr to Jun 2020 | Increase – April to June 2020 compared with April to June 2019 | Total since April 2013 | |
| Scotland1 | 53,590 | 20,645 | 63% | 841,040 |
| Aberdeen City | 2,975 | 1,085 | 57% | 44,140 |
| Aberdeenshire | 1,065 | 250 | 30% | 19,210 |
| Angus | 745 | 210 | 39% | 14,145 |
| Argyll & Bute | 225 | 45 | 27% | 7,885 |
| Clackmannanshire | 665 | 310 | 88% | 7,410 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 1,720 | 675 | 65% | 23,495 |
| Dundee City | 1,890 | 955 | 102% | 30,110 |
| East Ayrshire | 1,035 | 230 | 29% | 25,460 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 660 | 355 | 116% | 8,760 |
| East Lothian | 665 | 125 | 23% | 11,455 |
| East Renfrewshire | 150 | 65 | 80% | 2,650 |
| Edinburgh2 | 8,015 | 5,735 | 252% | 57,110 |
| Eilean Siar | 60 | 30 | 94% | 1,225 |
| Falkirk | 815 | 305 | 59% | 20,305 |
| Fife | 6,575 | 2,385 | 57% | 79,615 |
| Glasgow City | 9,320 | 3,905 | 72% | 121,285 |
| Highland | 650 | 150 | 30% | 20,745 |
| Inverclyde | 815 | 225 | 38% | 16,475 |
| Midlothian | 815 | 125 | 19% | 16,290 |
| Moray | 325 | 15 | 4% | 11,020 |
| North Ayrshire | 1,075 | 60 | 6% | 29,720 |
| North Lanarkshire3 | 2,840 | (205) | 7% | 76,880 |
| Orkney | 25 | 15 | 93% | 465 |
| Perth & Kinross | 1,235 | 645 | 109% | 17,390 |
| Renfrewshire | 2,295 | 395 | 21% | 50,125 |
| Scottish Borders | 440 | 225 | 104% | 9,265 |
| Shetland | 15 | (25) | 68% | 870 |
| South Ayrshire | 790 | 305 | 64% | 13,400 |
| South Lanarkshire | 1,160 | 285 | 32% | 29,335 |
| Stirling | 695 | 225 | 48% | 14,355 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 2,255 | 1,205 | 115% | 34,580 |
| West Lothian4 | 1,570 | 335 | 27% | 25,860 |
