Surge in applications for welfare fund

An emergency welfare fund has seen a surge in demand with 600 more applications for help than last year.

Elaine Nisbet, anti-poverty manager, told a West Lothian Council panel that the council may have to top up its share of the Scottish Welfare Fund by £80,000 to meet a shortfall.

Mrs Nisbet said: “There has been an 85 per cent increase in the number of applications received since 2013, with no comparative increase in budget to cover the increase in demand.”

There have been more than 4,500 applications since April.