Welfare changes see sharp rise in number of bids for crisis grants

Applications for crisis grants in Fife increased by 17.5% after the roll out of Universal Credit.

The controversial welfare reform was introduced in the region on December 4 last year and the increase was recorded between December 6 and the end of February.

Fife Council’s SNP co-leader Councillor David Alexander said: “Despite our bitter opposition to Universal Credit it’s here and causing a lot of misery for many.

“As a council we’ve already allocated around £3 million to help minimise the impact of the UK government’s changes to welfare reform.

“And in our recent budget for 2018-19 we’ve committed over £600,000.”

After the Department for Work and Pensions rolled out Universal Credit in December, more than 2,300 claims were made in the region.

Fife’s Labour co-leader Councillor David Ross said: “We’ve expressed our concerns about welfare reform over and over again. Our welfare assistants have proved themselves invaluable in providing advice and support to people facing difficulties due to Universal Credit and we’ll be making these posts permanent, along with providing for digital skills and adult basic education.”

Measures now in place to mitigate the impact of welfare reform include tailored Scottish Welfare Fund crisis grants for anyone transferring to Universal Credit.

This is to help support those in, or near, crisis with a particular focus on combating food and fuel poverty. Anyone in crisis due to an initial application for Universal Credit, regardless of how many grants they have received, is eligible to apply. The following year, their record will be reset to the standard policy of three paid crisis grant applications a year.

Fife Council previously criticised the timing of the roll-out. Mr Alexander said then: “It really couldn’t have come at a worse time of year – a time when people traditionally struggle financially.”