Scottish authorities being forced to turn away support requests

Significant numbers of “financially distressed” Scots are being denied financial aid put in place to help them through lockdown.

The Scottish Government launched the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund to provide relief to selfemployed individuals who have not been able to access other support.

But this week, Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure and services committee heard that 40% of all applicants to its scheme had been rejected.

Turning away “distressed” applicants has been difficult for council officers, who said their hands had been tied by government guidance.

Economic development service manager Matt

Lockley said: “The scheme launched on April 30 and to date £120,000 has gone out the door.

“But we are having a very high rejection rate – 40% of applications are being rejected for a variety of reasons.”

He added it was due to the “very specific” nature of the requirements, and that officers are providing feedback to the Scottish Government in the hope they can be relaxed and the rejected cases revisited.

Huntly councillor Robbie Withey said: “I’ve had a few people come to me about the hardship fund and in all cases they have been people who have been rejected.

“They feel it is us that have decided to reject their applications and don’t seem to understand that we’re simply following guidelines.”