Under the Scottish Welfare Fund, people on low incomes can apply for a grant in case of emergency (Crisis Grants) or in order to live at home (Community Care Grants). Both types can take the form of money, vouchers, travel tickets or goods, for example cooking equipment.

Since 2016, Fife Council had been using our software to manage the application process. Yet with 35,000 applications annually, and processing times coming under pressure, the council needed some extra help to keep everything running smoothly.

Providing expert support fast

The council asked us to step in and support with application processing, particularly for Community Care Grants. From November 2023, until present, we have assessed 3,653 applications and confirmed eligibility for a total of 1,491 applications.

Our skilled team took applications by phone and email following national guidance and the council’s own procedures to determine eligibility. We also managed all follow-up queries to keep the admin away from the busy in-house team.

Ewan Black heads up Fife’s work under the Scottish Welfare Fund:

“We knew NEC had experience with administering grants and we were already using their software. This meant they could step in really quickly and start making a difference straight away.”

Working in close partnership

Over the lifetime of the contract, we held weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss progress and resolve any queries. We also provided regular updates to make reporting easier, and the council was able to see the progress of all cases in their software as usual.

With a new team in place, the council has now been able to bring the service back in house.

For more information on the services NEC Software Solutions offers visit our Business Processing and Local Welfare Provision pages. Or get in contact with us on our Contact page.