More than 6,500 older people across Scotland turned to the Scottish Welfare Fund for financial support during 2025/26, prompting renewed calls for action to tackle pensioner poverty.
New figures published by the Scottish Government show that 6,525 older people applied to the Scottish Welfare Fund over the past year. The fund provides financial assistance to people on low incomes through two types of grants: Crisis Grants, which help people facing immediate financial emergencies, and Community Care Grants, which support independent living by helping with essential household items such as cookers, fridges and washing machines.
According to the latest statistics, almost 3,000 older people applied for a Crisis Grant, highlighting the growing number of pensioners needing emergency help to cover everyday essentials, including food and heating.
Independent Age says the figures reflect the increasing financial pressures facing many older people as the cost of living continues to rise.
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said the number of applications should act as a wake-up call for governments.
She said: “The numbers of older people who have accessed the Scottish Welfare Fund make it clear that we need a plan to reduce pensioner poverty.
The Fund is a safety net for people in financial crisis, and it is a worrying sign of the times that more than 6,500 older people needed to apply for it in the last year.
“Almost 3,000 older people applied for a Crisis Grant, which is designed to help people afford essentials such as food and heating. In modern Scotland, no one should have to rely on an emergency grant to pay for these basic necessities.”
The charity is calling on the Scottish Government to use its forthcoming Programme for Government to introduce a dedicated strategy to tackle pensioner poverty. It is also urging greater investment in improving the energy efficiency of homes to help reduce household bills.
Independent Age believes both the Scottish and UK Governments should work together to improve awareness and take-up of benefits and other financial support, arguing that many older people are still missing out on payments they are entitled to receive.
The charity says long-term action is needed to ensure that older people can live later life with dignity, security and enough income to meet the cost of everyday living.