What is a crisis grant?

It's emergency help with essential costs — usually money you don't have to pay back — for people in a financial crisis or on a low income. Each UK nation runs its own scheme: the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland, the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland, and council-run crisis/household support funds in England.

How do I apply for the Scottish Welfare Fund?

Apply to your local council (not the Scottish Government). There are two grants: a Crisis Grant if you've had an emergency and can't afford essentials, and a Community Care Grant to help you set up or stay in a settled home. Grants are discretionary and don't have to be repaid. You're usually told the decision within 2 working days for a crisis grant and 15 working days for a community care grant.

What help is there in Wales and Northern Ireland?

Wales has the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF), which gives Emergency Assistance Payments for essential costs and Individual Assistance Payments to help you live independently — apply via the Welsh Government. Northern Ireland has Discretionary Support, which can give a grant or interest-free loan in a crisis — apply via nidirect or the Finance Support service.

Do I have to pay a crisis grant back?

Crisis grants and community care grants in Scotland, and Wales' DAF payments, are usually grants you don't repay. Northern Ireland's Discretionary Support can be a grant or an interest-free loan depending on your situation. None of these is a high-cost loan — and you should never pay a company to apply, as it's free.

Emergency crisis grants 2026 — Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

Your nation’s scheme

Where you live	The scheme & what it gives
Scotland	Scottish Welfare Fund — a Crisis Grant (emergency/disaster, can’t afford essentials) and a Community Care Grant (to set up or stay in a settled home). Apply to your local council.
Wales	Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) — Emergency Assistance Payments for essential costs and Individual Assistance Payments to live independently. Apply via the Welsh Government (gov.wales).
Northern Ireland	Discretionary Support — a grant or interest-free loan in a crisis. Apply via nidirect / the Finance Support service.
England	Council-run crisis / local welfare / household support funds (names vary by council). See our crisis & resilience fund guide.

All are discretionary — they depend on your situation and the local budget, so you might not get one even if eligible. But they’re free to apply for and, where awarded, usually don’t have to be repaid.

Scotland — the Scottish Welfare Fund

Two grants, both applied for through your local council (not the Scottish Government):

Crisis Grant — if you’ve had an emergency or disaster (e.g. lost money, fled harm, a fire) and can’t afford essentials like food or heating. Decision usually within 2 working days.
Community Care Grant — to help you set up or maintain a settled home (e.g. leaving care or hospital, escaping abuse, after homelessness), for things like a cooker, bed or flooring. Decision usually within 15 working days.
You don’t have to be on benefits, though a low income helps. If you get a grant, you don’t repay it.
Refused? You can ask for a first-tier review, then an independent review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Wales & Northern Ireland

Wales — Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

Apply through the Welsh Government. There are two payment types: Emergency Assistance Payments (help with essential costs after an emergency) and Individual Assistance Payments (to help you live independently — e.g. white goods or furniture). It’s free and discretionary; check the current eligibility and how to apply on gov.wales.

Northern Ireland — Discretionary Support

Apply via nidirect / the Finance Support service. Discretionary Support can provide a grant or an interest-free loan in a crisis or emergency (and there’s also a Discretionary Support self-isolation/short-term living-expenses element at times). Check the latest rules and how to apply on nidirect.

We point you to the official route

Wales’ DAF and NI’s Discretionary Support are run by the devolved governments and the exact eligibility and amounts change — so always apply through the official gov.wales / nidirect pages rather than any third-party site, and never pay a company to apply.

Applying — and what else to grab

Apply through the official route for your nation (council for Scotland; gov.wales for Wales; nidirect for NI; your council for England).
Be clear about the emergency and exactly what you need (food, gas/electricity top-up, essential white goods).
Stack other help while you wait: food banks, energy and water help, and a full benefits check — these aren’t either/or.
Get free advice from Citizens Advice if you’re unsure or refused.

Do this now

Find your scheme — Scotland (council) · Wales (gov.wales DAF) · NI (nidirect Discretionary Support) · England (council crisis fund).
Apply free today and say what the emergency is and what you need.
Also line up a food bank, energy help and a benefits check.

Free help: Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 (Scotland 0800 028 1456) · your council · gov.wales · nidirect. This is general information, not legal advice.

Source verification Primary sources: mygov.scot and Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Welfare Fund — crisis & community care grants), GOV.WALES (Discretionary Assistance Fund) and nidirect (Discretionary Support). Last verified 21 June 2026. Confidence: High on Scotland — two grants applied for via the local council, discretionary, non-repayable, with ~2 working days (crisis) / 15 working days (community care) decisions and a review route. Wales (DAF: Emergency Assistance + Individual Assistance Payments) and Northern Ireland (Discretionary Support: grant or interest-free loan) are described at scheme level and routed to the official gov.wales / nidirect pages, as exact eligibility and amounts are set by the devolved governments and change. England’s council crisis/household support funds are covered in our separate guide. SortedUK is independent — not a government service — and this is general information. Applying is free; never pay a company.

Crisis grants — common questions

Do I have to be on benefits to get a crisis grant?

Usually not — these schemes are for people in a financial emergency or on a low income, and you don’t always need to be claiming benefits. They’re discretionary and depend on your situation and the budget, so apply and explain your circumstances.

How quickly will I get a decision?

In Scotland, usually about 2 working days for a Crisis Grant and 15 working days for a Community Care Grant. Wales and NI aim to deal with emergencies quickly too — say clearly if it’s urgent (e.g. no food or no heating).

Do I pay it back?

Scottish Welfare Fund grants and Wales DAF payments are usually grants you don’t repay. NI Discretionary Support can be a grant or an interest-free loan depending on your case. None is a high-cost loan — and applying is always free.

I was refused — can I challenge it?

Yes. In Scotland you can ask for a review (and then an independent review). Wales and NI also have review/appeal routes. Get free help from Citizens Advice to put your case again with any extra evidence.

In a financial emergency? There’s a grant for that.

Your nation’s scheme

Scotland — the Scottish Welfare Fund

Wales & Northern Ireland

Wales — Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

Northern Ireland — Discretionary Support

Applying — and what else to grab

Crisis grants — common questions

An emergency doesn’t mean you’re on your own.

In a financial emergency? There’s a grant for that.

Your nation’s scheme

Scotland — the Scottish Welfare Fund

Wales & Northern Ireland

Wales — Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

Northern Ireland — Discretionary Support

Applying — and what else to grab

Crisis grants — common questions

Related guides

An emergency doesn’t mean you’re on your own.