Wednesday September 2nd 2026
West Lothian Council’s Anti-Poverty Service helped thousands of residents access financial support last year.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
More than 9,000 people in West Lothian applied for crisis grants from the Scottish Welfare fund last year.
The Holyrood funding is administered by West Lothian council and it paid out more than £610,000 in grants from emergency funds.
And the council’s own Advice Shop helped people in southern Livingston with financial gains of just over £3m maximising income from social security benefits.
Council officers said the figures proved that the cost of living crisis continues to bite hardest on the poorest.
The Anti-Poverty Service gave its annual update to councillors on the Livingston South Local Area Committee.
In total 5,670 individuals or families received a Crisis Grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund in West Lothian last year.
Crisis Grants are one-off, non-repayable payments provided by the Scottish Welfare Fund to help people experiencing an emergency.
A total of 2,258 Community Care Grant applications were received, with 1,094 applications awarded, with over £714,867 paid out in grants.
Community Care Grant are designed to help you establish or maintain a settled home and live independently. They can be used to purchase furniture and white goods such as washing machines.
Councillors heard that the Livingston South ward represents 10% of the client base for the Advice Shop. The total financial gains for customers in the ward were £3,071,026 by maximising income from social security benefits.
Residents made energy efficiency savings of £50,935 through access to financial support and advice.
Support to deal with £731,949 of problem debt resulted in a reduction of £453,426.
The Advice Shop also issued 232 emergency food vouchers and 187 emergency fuel vouchers to households at risk of disconnection in the Livingston South ward.
Councillor Moira McKee-Shemilt said: “Keep on doing the great work. Thank-you.”
Chairing the meeting Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick: “I think I was the first to say this but the service is the jewel in crown for the council because you are very much an open door and are full of compassion. It has helped many many people so please pass on our thanks.”
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