CHARITIES say they fear being crippled by the impact of welfare reforms and will struggle to help families affected due to a lack of long-term funding and capacity.

Benefit cuts are already causing "bedlam", according to a survey of 400 Scots charities, despite the fact the impact of changes such as the UK Government's new Universal Credit are yet to be felt.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for more help from the Scottish Government.

Charities warn the changes to rules on a range of benefits, many of which came into effect at the start of April, are forcing families in poverty to choose between paying rent, heating or food.

They also warn a price will be paid in human and financial terms through the longer-term impact on mental and physical health.

SCVO welcomed a funding pledge from Scots ministers of £5.4 million to benefits advice agencies and £2.5m to social landlords, but said it would be better to channel smaller grants to grassroots organisations which face being overwhelmed.

The survey shows 77% of bodies responding felt there was not enough help for those hit by the reforms, and 72% are seeing rising demand for their services as a result of benefit changes.

Nearly nine in 10 (88%) expect this to get worse and 60% expect it to get much worse. More than 40% said they would struggle to fill the gaps.

SCVO said the Scottish Government and other funders should help provide training for frontline charity staff to enable them to help those affected.

John Downie, SCVO director of public affairs, said: "The Scottish Government needs to take a more strategic approach to mitigate the impact of welfare reform.

"Funding advice services is great but lots of different organisations are seeing their demand increase. We would rather see 200 organisations getting £10,000 each to help people as early as possible before the issues they face become complex and desperate."

He added: "The Scottish Government has reacted to events a bit. The pledge to abolish the bedroom tax is a great commitment, but not one they can act on for the time being.

"What we are saying is what are we actually doing now?

"It's clear welfare changes are causing bedlam across Scotland."

SCVO is calling for a campaign against welfare reforms and against the myths it says are being peddled about benefit recipients.

Lisa Archibald, service manager for the mental health charity New Horizons Borders, said: "People in genuine need are coming to us explaining they feel ashamed to have been branded as skivers and scroungers."

Dave Simmers, chief exectuive of Community Food Initiatives North East, said he was deeply concerned about the effect welfare reforms would have on people.

He said: "Individuals and familes who already live on very low incomes making decisions to, for example, pay the rent, heat the house or buy food will be faced with untenable levels of income."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman attacked the Coalition's benefit moves and said it was "implementing a shift towards more preventative approaches to place people and community at the heart of public services".

She added: "We've given specific funding of £500m for three change funds over the three-year period to 2014-15 to encourage joint working across the public sector in adult social care, early years and to tackling re-offending."