Festive closure
Our office will be closed for the festive period from 25 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
We will be open on 29, 30 and 31 December between 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm. During these times, we will be focusing on handling reviews of crisis grants received due to the urgency of these applications. If you wish to request a review of a community care grant application you can do so online. Alternatively, you can call us on 5 January 2026 and we can take your application over the phone.
Our normal service resumes on 5 January 2026 at 10am.
Who we are & what we do
We are the Scottish Welfare Fund independent review service at the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). We carry out independent reviews of decisions that councils have made on community care and crisis grant applications.
We are not part of any council and our service is free.
Ask us for an independent review
Are you unhappy with a council’s review of your community care or crisis grant application decision? Ask us for an independent review.
Information centre
Information for customers, advisers and councils, statistics & reports.
Contact us
Get in touch with us via Freephone or BSL line, write to us by Freepost or online form, or book an appointment to visit us in person.