Crisis grants aim to help people who are in crisis because of a disaster or an emergency.

Examples of this may include when:

• you have had a fire or flood at home
• an unexpected situation has occurred
• you're a victim of domestic abuse and you need help with things like moving away from an abuser
• you're a grandparent or other relative who has taken over caring for a child, and you're waiting on a transfer of benefits
• you're facing a gap in your normal income because of a redundancy or change at work
• you have just been released from prison

The purpose of a community care grant is to enable people to live independently, or continue to live independently, preventing the need for institutional care. It can also assist families facing exceptional pressure.

Community care grants can be awarded in the following situations:

• to enable qualifying individuals who are leaving care or imprisonment to establish or maintain a settled home, where without a grant there is a risk that the individual will not be able to do so
• to enable qualifying individuals to establish or maintain a settled home after being homeless, or otherwise living an unsettled way of life
• to enable qualifying individuals to maintain a settled home, where without a grant there is a risk of the individual needing to go into a care institution
• to enable qualifying individuals to maintain a settled home in a situation where that individual, or another individual in the same household, is facing exceptional pressure
• to assist a person to care for a qualifying individual who has been released from prison or a young offenders’ institution on temporary release

The quickest way to apply is by using link above.

The application form will direct you to specific questions dependent on the information you give so please think carefully before you complete your answers. If at any point you click on the save and exit button, you will be provided with a reference number and password so that you can return to the application and complete it at a later time. Your application will not be sent to the Scottish Welfare Fund team until you have reached the final page and have clicked on the submit application button.

Key points to remember

• Discretionary nature: The Scottish Welfare Fund is discretionary, meaning that any grant awarded is based on an assessment of your circumstances by North Lanarkshire Council.
• Budget limitations: The fund operates within a limited budget. Grants will only be fulfilled if there is sufficient money left in the allocated budget.
• Eligibility criteria: The decision to award a grant, and the amount awarded, is determined by the council based on eligibility and qualifying criteria set by the Scottish Government.

You can contact the team on 0300 555 0405 or email swf@northlan.gov.uk 

Whether you are applying for a crisis grant or a community care grant, you will normally be asked to provide evidence to support your application. You can upload evidence through the online application or you can provide evidence to the mailbox referencing your application number swf@northlan.gov.uk. This helps to make sure that the right decision is made.

Evidence that may be required include:

• Screenshots from Universal Credit Journal
• Tenancy agreement
• Bank, building society, Post Office or credit union statement
• Wage slips
• Lost property or crime reference number (contact Police Scotland by dialing 101)
• Receipts of expenditure

Please note by not providing supporting information you can delay the outcome of your application.

If you are not happy with our decision, you can request a review by emailing swf@northlan.gov.uk

Please note - representatives are required to upload a copy of a signed mandate when submitting a first-tier review on behalf of an applicant.

First-tier reviews must be made in writing within 20 working days of our original decision.

The time limit of 20 working days can be extended if you can evidence why you did not request a review within the allocated time.

All review requests should include:

• The date and reference number from your decision letter.
• The reasons why you do not think the right decision was made on the application. For example, this might be because you do not think we took all the relevant information into account because you do not agree with the award that has been made or because you don't agree that you are not eligible for the Scottish Welfare Fund.
• Information that you did not give us when you filled in your application but which you think might make a difference to our decision. Please phone us to find out more about this if you are not sure.
• Information on any changes to your circumstances since the application which might make a difference to our decision.
• Your signature. If someone is making a review request for you, you must sign the letter giving your agreement for the review to proceed.

Written reviews must be sent to the address below:

Scottish Welfare Fund
PO Box 19078
Motherwell
ML1 9DU

First-tier reviews will be completed within two working days for crisis grants and 15 working days for community care grants.

The review will be dealt with by a different decision maker, not involved in the original decision.

If you remain unhappy after a first-tier review decision, the next step is to request an independent review by the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO). You can access the full details here:

Scottish Welfare Fund Independent Review

The SPSO are not part of the council and their service is free.

You can also get general advice in relation to money problems from any of the following:

• Call 01698 332551 or email TPteam@northlan.gov.uk for advice about benefits or advice in relation to debts or budgeting
• Money Talk Team - get help to make sure you're claiming everything you're entitled to and advice to help you make the most of your money
• Scotland's Financial Health Service - find information and advice on debt, managing money, housing, homelessness and ethical lending
• National Debtline - get free, confidential and independent debt advice on 0808 808 4000
• Citizens Advice Scotland - visit your nearest bureau to speak to somebody face-to-face, or call 0800 028 1456
• Shelter Scotland - call the free helpline for housing advice on 0808 800 4444

You may be able to get financial support and advice from the (DWP)Department for Work & Pensions:

• Short Term Benefit Advance
• Hardship Payments
• Budgeting Loan

Grants are also available from Social Security Scotland and these include:

Family Payments

• Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby payments
• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
• Best Start Grant School Age Payment
• Best Start Food

Carer Benefits

• Young Carer Grant
• Carers Allowance Supplement
• Carers support payment

Disability Payments

• Child Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment
• Pension Age Disability Payment

Heating Benefits

• Child Winter Heating Payment
• Winter Heating Payment

Other Benefits

• Funeral Support Payment
• Job Start Payment

The Scottish Child Payment

If you have children under the age of 16 and meet eligible criteria, you may be entitled to The Scottish Child Payment.

You should apply for Scottish Child Payment if you:

• receive a low-income benefit such as Universal Credit, Tax Credits, or Pension Credit
• have responsibility for a child or children under the age of 16
• live in Scotland

Find out more and apply online at www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or by calling Social Security Scotland on free on 0800 182 2222.

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau or local Welfare Rights Organisation may be able to offer you advice. Details of your local Citizens Advice Bureau can be found on their website at www.cas.org.uk/bureaux

You can find out more about local welfare rights organisations on the Rights Advice Scotland website at www.rascot.co.uk.