Question reference: S5W-28038
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 March 2020
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what flexibilities will be applied to the eligibility criteria for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer
The Welfare Funds (Scotland) Regulations 2016 allow for more than 3 awards in a rolling 12 month period where the local authority considers there are exceptional circumstances. We have written to local authorities to remind them of this, to make it clear that we consider the current circumstances exceptional and to advise them to suspend the 3 award maximum.
Individuals may also apply for a Community Care Grant to meet needs that arise out of exceptional pressure on the applicant or a member of their family. Local authorities have discretion as to how they assess the degree of that pressure in terms of its effect on the individual family as well as the type of pressure, or how common it is.
Officials are in regular contact with local authority colleagues to monitor issues as they arise and to identify any areas where further help or flexibility is needed.