Apply for benefits and financial support

If you're unhappy with a decision we've made about your application for a crisis grant or community care grant through the Scottish Welfare Fund, you can ask for a review.

First tier review

If you're not happy with our decision you can ask us to review our decision. This is called a first tier review.

To do this, you must write to us within 20 days of the decision date and include:

• the date and reference number from your decision letter
• the reason you disagree with our decision
• any extra information or documents you think will help your claim
• your signature

A member of our team who was not previously involved in will look at your application and let you know their decision. We'll call you within 2 working days for a crisis grant review or write to you within 15 working days for a community care grant review.

You can email scottishwelfarefund@dumgal.gov.uk or write to the address at the top of your decision letter.

Ask for an independent review

To request an independent review of our first tier decision, you must contact Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) within one month of the first tier review decision:

• ask the SPSO for an independent review
• telephone: 0800 014 7299
• post: FREEPOST SPSO (this is the full address and no stamp is needed)

The SPSO will make a decision within 1 working day for crisis grants and 21 working days for community care grants, if they have all the information they need.

Find out more about the Scottish Welfare Fund Independent Review.