Apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund

When you apply, it is important to provide as much information as you can about your situation as this will help us to make a quicker decision. Please tell us:

• Why you need this help and what items or living expenses are needed
• Your contact details, including phone number and email address as we need these to get in touch with you about your application.

If you have a Social Worker or Housing Support Officer, you can ask them for help with the application. The Citizens Advice Bureau may also be able to provide help.

We may require proof of your identity and circumstances to process your application. It may help your application and enable us to make a quicker decision if at the time you apply you are able to provide evidence to confirm your situation, for example bank statements, evidence of income and expenditure, photographs, medical evidence. 

Information can be emailed to awards@moray.gov.uk or alternatively taken to your nearest Information Hub. We will also check our records and may contact other organisations to confirm your circumstances. If we need any more information, we will contact you directly. In the absence of any additional information being provided a decision will be made based on the details you give in your application.

Important – if you are applying for a Crisis Grant and are in receipt of Universal Credit and it is more than 7 days until you next payment, please provide the following information in support of your application:

• Evidence of your last Universal Credit payment that shows the date it was paid, the amount you received and details of any deductions from your award
• Bank transaction print to show all transactions since the date of your last Universal Credit payment

This information can be emailed to awards@moray.gov.uk or taken to one of our Information Hubs and should be submitted as soon as you have made your application.

Apply online: This is the easiest way to apply, as it can be done at any time of the day or night, anywhere that has an internet connection. You will be asked some questions to check if you are eligible to claim a Scottish Welfare Fund grant, before you can begin your application. You can click on the save and exit button at anytime and you will get a reference number and password so that you can return to the application and complete it later.

If you do not have a computer or internet access at home, you can use our self-service facilities at our Information Hubs.

Telephone Application: You can call our customer service team on 01343 563456 between 8.45am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. This is not a freephone number, but we can call you back to go through the application form with you. You can also phone us using the self-service facilities at our Information Hubs.

In the event of an emergency out-with office hours (Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5pm) you can contact the council on 03457 565656.

We can also provide face-to-face support at our Information Hub, if you cannot complete a telephone or online application. Alternatively, print off and complete a paper application (pdf) and return it using the contact details on the back page of the application.

How we use your personal information

Our Privacy Notice tells you how we use the personal data you have provided in your application.

For any queries or concerns about how your personal data is being processed you can contact the Data Protection Officer at info@moray.gov.uk or 01343 562633. You can also consult the information available at the Information Commissioner's website: ico.org.uk

Have I been successful in my application?

We will phone you and either email or send a letter to confirm our decision. We will usually tell you our decision on receipt of all information needed to make a decision, and in any event, no later than the end of the next working day for a crisis grant and within 15 working days of receiving all information needed for a community care grant.

If you are not successful in your application, or you're not happy with the award you've been given, you have the right to request a review. 

Other help if your application is unsuccessful

If the Scottish Welfare Fund cannot assist you there are other sources of help available. 

Further information is available from the Money Advice Moray and you can see Need help with money? 

If you feel you have been treated badly or unfairly then you should complain through the council’s complaints process.