The Scottish Welfare Fund is money from Glasgow City Council for people in a tight spot. It has two grants. A crisis grant is for an emergency, like a fire, a flood or a sudden gap in your income. A community care grant helps you set up or keep a settled home. Neither has to be paid back. To apply, use the Apply button on the council’s Scottish Welfare Fund page. If you need help with a crisis grant form, the council says to contact it Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm. The one phone number it prints for the fund is 0141 276 1177, option 1.
Last checked: 26 October 2026.
If you’re reading this because things are bad right now, you’re not doing anything wrong by asking. This fund exists for exactly that. We’ve pulled the council’s own wording together so you don’t have to dig through it.
One honest warning first. The council says it is getting an unprecedented volume of applications and that it’s taking longer than normal to process them. It’s also a budget limited scheme, so a grant is only paid if there is enough money left in the budget. Apply anyway, and apply early.
What the Scottish Welfare Fund is
Each council in Scotland runs it, under rules set by the Scottish Government. The council calls it a discretionary scheme, which means it decides each case and nothing is guaranteed. On mygov.scot, you have to be 16 or older and on a low income or getting certain benefits. You apply through your local council. In Glasgow, that’s Glasgow City Council.
The Scottish Government’s guidance says the grants are not loans, and they “do not need to be paid back”.
Crisis grants
A crisis grant is for when you’re in trouble because of a disaster or an emergency. The council’s own examples are when:
- you’ve had a fire or flood at home
- an unexpected situation has happened
- you’re a victim of domestic abuse and 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 a change at work
- you’ve just been released from prison
The Scottish Government’s guidance also covers short-term living costs you need until your next income is due, because of an emergency.
Crisis grants are normally limited to three in a rolling 12 months. The guidance says that count is across all councils. The council gives priority to people who have an immediate need, are vulnerable because of age, ill health or another reason, or face serious problems if they don’t get the grant. Being sanctioned or disallowed on benefits doesn’t affect whether you can apply.
If you’ve claimed a benefit from the DWP and it’s delayed, the council says to ask the DWP first, as they may be able to give you a short-term benefit advance.
Community care grants
A community care grant is for people who might have to go into care unless they get support to stay at home. It’s also for people leaving care who need to set up their own home. The council says it can help with costs if:
- you’re leaving care or prison and need help to start a new and settled home
- you’ve been homeless, or living an unsettled life such as sofa surfing, and need help to set up a settled home
- you need support to stay out of care, like a hospital or a homeless unit
- you’re caring for someone who’s been released from prison or a young offender’s institution
- you’re under great pressure and need help to keep your home to a liveable standard, or you need an item such as a washing machine and you’re incontinent
- you’re escaping domestic abuse and need help
- a child’s health is at risk because they don’t have a settled home or essential items, like a washing machine for their clothes or a suitable bed
Here’s how it works in Glasgow. If you qualify, the council says the award is made in goods that it sources and delivers. Cash is only given in rare situations. It checks you need the items you’ve applied for, and those checks can include a home visit that isn’t arranged with you first. That’s worth knowing before you apply, so it doesn’t catch you off guard.
There’s no limit on how many community care grants one person can get in a year. The rules on repeat applications still apply.
How much will I get?
Neither the council nor the Scottish Government prints a set amount for either grant, so we can’t give you a figure. The council says any grant is based on its assessment of your circumstances. Community care grants are mostly paid as items, not money.
How to apply
Online
The council calls this the quickest and easiest way. Go to the council’s Scottish Welfare Fund page and press Apply. For community care grants, you can make a new application online 24/7.
Two things to plan for. The online form has a 20 minute timeout, so have your personal and financial details to hand before you start. Save as you go, and keep a note of your application reference number.
By phone and help with the form
For a crisis grant, the council says you can contact it Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm if you need help completing or understanding the form. The number on its page is 0141 276 1177, option 1. The council prints that number for anyone who can’t download the paper form. It doesn’t print a separate freephone number for the fund. We don’t know what the call costs, so check with your phone provider if that matters.
If the form is a struggle at home, the council also suggests asking Social Work, your local Housing Association, Citizens Advice or similar support groups.
By post
You can download the paper form from the council’s page and post it to:
Scottish Welfare Team
Glasgow City Council
45 John Street
PO Box 36
G1 1JE
The council says posting a form makes the application take longer.
Live chat
The council’s live chat is open during office hours, and you can use it for Scottish Welfare Fund questions. It’s meant for general queries and finding your way around the website. If your question is complicated, you may be asked to use the online service or phone instead.
Bank holidays
The Scottish Welfare Fund team is closed on Friday 25 December and Monday 28 December 2026, with a half day (p.m.) closure on Thursday 31 December. You can still apply online, but there may be delays when the team gets back.
How long it takes
The council’s own warning is that it’s currently taking longer than normal. The Scottish Government sets these decision times, counted from when the council has all the information it needs:
| Grant | Decision due |
|---|---|
| Crisis grant | No later than the end of the next working day |
| Community care grant | Within 15 working days |
A working day runs from 9.00am to 4.45pm, Monday to Friday, not counting bank holidays. If the council misses these times, the guidance says it should acknowledge that and apologise.
The clock starts when the council has everything. So answer any request for more information quickly. It’s the easiest way to avoid delay.
If you’re turned down
You’ve got two steps.
- First Tier Review with the council. Ask for it in writing within 20 working days of the decision. There’s an online form on the council’s site, linked from its review page. The 20 days can be extended if you can show why you were late. A different decision maker looks at it. The council says reviews will be dealt with in 2 working days for crisis grants and 15 working days for community care grants. A review can’t reduce or take away an award you’ve already been given.
- Independent review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). If you’re still unhappy, you can ask the SPSO. They’re not part of the council, and the SPSO says its service is free, independent and impartial. Ask within one month of getting the council’s review decision. You can apply by phone on 0800 014 7299 (free, even from mobiles), in writing, or online at swf.spso.org.uk. The SPSO can change part or all of the decision, or tell the council to make a new one.
A written review should include the date and reference number from your decision letter, why you think the decision was wrong, anything new you didn’t give the first time, and your signature. The council’s page has the full list and the postal address for written reviews.
Other help in Glasgow
The Scottish Welfare Fund isn’t the only option. The council’s page points to these.
- Glasgow Helps. Free, confidential support, information and advice on fuel, food, work, mental health, physical health, housing and more. Phone 0141 276 1185. An interpreter can be arranged if you need one.
- Scottish Child Payment. If you have a child under 16, live in Scotland and get a low-income benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, you should apply. You can apply on mygov.scot or phone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (free).
- Council Tax Reduction. If council tax is part of the squeeze, see our guide to Council Tax Reduction and discounts in Glasgow.
- Citizens Advice and local welfare rights groups can go through your options with you.
- Food help. The council lists Govanhill Pantry, Roystonhill Pantry, Parkhead Pantry and Glasgow SE Foodbank, among others.
- Your Support Your Way Glasgow lists local services, groups and money advice.
- DWP. Depending on your situation, the council says the DWP may pay a Short Term Benefit Advance, Hardship Payments, a Budgeting Loan, a Sure Start Maternity Payment or a Cold Weather Payment. These have their own rules, so ask the DWP.
- Social Security Scotland grants. These include Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, Funeral Support Payment, Job Start Payment, Young Carer Grant, Carers Allowance Supplement, Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment.
For the wider picture on prices and budgeting, our cost of living in Glasgow guide and our council tax bands guide may help. If rent is the problem, start with renting in Glasgow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Scottish Welfare Fund phone number in Glasgow?
The council’s page gives 0141 276 1177, option 1. It prints this for people who can’t download the paper form. For help completing a crisis grant form, it says to contact the team Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
Is there a free phone number for the Scottish Welfare Fund in Glasgow?
The council doesn’t print a freephone number for the fund on its page, so we can’t point you to one. The 0800 number on its page, 0800 182 2222, is Social Security Scotland’s line for Scottish Child Payment, not for the Welfare Fund.
Is there a live chat?
Yes. The council’s live chat takes Scottish Welfare Fund questions during office hours. It’s for general queries, and complicated ones may be passed to the online service or the phone line.
What are the Scottish Welfare Fund opening times?
The council lists Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm, for help with a crisis grant form. Community care grant applications can be made online 24/7. The team is closed on bank holidays, and the next ones are 25 and 28 December and the afternoon of 31 December 2026.
How much is a crisis grant or a community care grant?
There’s no set amount. The council decides based on your circumstances and the Scottish Government’s rules. Community care grants are mostly paid as goods the council buys and delivers.
Do I have to pay a crisis grant back?
No. The Scottish Government says these are grants and they do not need to be paid back.
How long does a crisis grant take? How long does a community care grant take?
The Scottish Government’s rule is the end of the next working day for a crisis grant, and within 15 working days for a community care grant. Both are counted from when the council has all the information it needs. The council says it’s currently slower than normal because of the number of applications.
Can I get a crisis loan from Glasgow City Council?
The council’s page doesn’t list crisis loans. What it offers is crisis grants. The page does mention DWP help such as a Short Term Benefit Advance and a Budgeting Loan, so ask the DWP about those.
Is there a Glasgow council hardship fund?
For emergencies, the Scottish Welfare Fund is the council’s grant scheme. The council’s page also lists Glasgow Helps on 0141 276 1185 for wider support, and the DWP’s Hardship Payments, which are a separate scheme.
How many crisis grants can I get?
Normally up to three in a rolling 12 months, across all councils. In exceptional circumstances a council may allow more. There’s no yearly limit on community care grants, but repeat application rules still apply.
Can I apply if I’m on a benefit sanction?
Yes. The council says being subject to a sanction or disallowance does not affect your eligibility.
What if my application is refused?
Ask the council for a First Tier Review within 20 working days. If you’re still unhappy, ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for a free independent review within one month of the council’s review decision.
Details on this page come from Glasgow City Council, mygov.scot, the Scottish Government’s statutory guidance and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Rules and phone numbers can change, so check the council’s page before you rely on them.
