Between April and December 2014, more than 101,000 awards were given out by local authorities under the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme.

The payments, which provide financial assistance towards housing costs for those claiming housing benefit, comes to a total value of more than £46m either invested, or committed through, to 31 March 2015.

The latest figures have been published by Scotland's Chief Statistician and reveal that between April and December 2014, local authorities received almost 110,000 applications to the scheme. By the end of December 2014, some 106,000 of these claims had been processed and over 101,000 awards were granted. The average payment was around £456.

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Commenting on the figures, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "Discretionary Housing Payments are a lifeline for claimants who need extra help with housing costs or to offset the effects of the bedroom tax, which affects over 70,000 households.

"Using the new powers coming to Scotland, the Scottish Government will abolish the bedroom tax as soon as possible."

She continued: "In the meantime, the Scottish Government is providing £35 million this year, and the same next year, to councils to fully mitigate the bedroom tax.

"This funding is making a real difference with today's statistics showing over 100,000 awards have helped people across Scotland avoid arrears or eviction."

(JP/MH)