Planned changes to housing benefit could have a "catastrophic impact" on abuse victims, with the future of refuge accommodation under "real uncertainty", the First Minister has warned.
Nicola Sturgeon called on the UK Government to "immediately" announce an exemption for women's refuges and other types of supported accommodation.
Holyrood's Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has raised concerns with Welfare Minister Lord Freud, calling for ''urgent clarification'' of the changes, which are due to come into force in April 2018.
Scottish Women's Aid has previously claimed plans to cap social housing rents could result in an annual loss of thousands of pounds for each separate refuge.
Proposals to extend the local housing allowance (LHA) to social landlords ''will have a devastating impact on the future provision of refuge accommodation in Scotland, where all refuge accommodation is in the ownership of either housing associations or local authorities'', the charity said.
Ms Sturgeon said the housing element of benefit claims would be set at a level which is "lower than the cost of rent and service charges in refuges and supported accommodation".
She added: "This will have a catastrophic impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our society who rely on such support for survival, that does include women fleeing domestic abuse, disabled people and some homeless people.
"The Scottish Government is concerned about these proposals, which were outlined in the UK Government spending review.
"The Social Justice Secretary has written to the UK Minister for Welfare reform to express our grave concerns and to seek urgent clarification on what protection will be provided for those in supported accommodation".
MSP Clare Adamson raised the issue with Ms Sturgeon during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.
The SNP backbencher said the only way to stop the "worry and distress being caused by these proposals is if the UK Government make clear now that refuge and supported accommodation will be totally exempt from the local housing allowance cap".
The First Minister said: "The UK Government's proposals mean there is now real uncertainty about the future of refuge and other forms of supported accommodation, not just in Scotland but across the UK, despite an earlier announcement that changes to funding arrangements would be cost-neutral.
"UK ministers can put an end to this worry now and I call on them to immediately announce an exemption for refuge and supported accommodation from the local housing allowance cap."
The UK Government announced last month there will be a one-year deferral for all supported accommodation from the 1% rent reductions.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: ''The truth is that nothing will change until 2018. We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible."
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