Armed Forces get bill help ASAP

One effort that is making a real difference with the Armed Forces Community is the Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP). Scottish families with a direct connection to the military can receive advice on money, bills and debt through specialists that are familiar with the unique challenges faced by this group. They are also aware of the opportunities that are made available to those with military service. This specific knowledge is what makes this highly trained group so effective with handling major financial concerns.

This service provides specialised money advice to those who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces and Reserve as well as Merchant Navy members who participated in military operations. Anyone connected to the military as well as their family members are eligible for help through this targeted approach to money problems.

The ASAP helpline links current and former Armed Forces with an adviser who can help them through difficult financial circumstances that threaten to tear a family apart. Often there are one or two changes that can be made that will resolve major problems. Sometimes this includes bringing in outside assistance from a third party.

Advice may be obtained by calling the helpline on 0845 231 0300 or email at ASAP@citizensadvicedirect.org.uk. Some enquiries may be handled quickly while others will require the effort of a scheduled advice surgery. These appointments might initially sound intrusive, but clients find that they are relieved to be able to discuss the matter with someone in a private setting. It allows for a proper discussion and tailored solution to be rendered without friends or outside family members necessarily becoming aware of the issues that have occurred.

The Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau Service provides specialised training to the advisers that assist through the ASAP helpline and advice surgeries. They are aware that while members of our Armed Forces have the same types of problems as civilians, the extent that those problems can cause additional hardship can be amplified due to the complexities faced by these families. A Soldier who is deployed overseas runs a greater risk of missing a bill than someone who returns to the same home every night.

The comprehensive support offered by ASAP meets the complex needs of someone who may have experienced the rigours of combat. Financial advice is the primary focus, yet many clients find that the help with relationships and other coping strategies can be much more valuable. Often one need is connected to another, making this a highly effective approach to meeting the needs of the Armed Forces. For example, one person who is late on rent may be having trouble with their job due to PTSD issues. Someone else may have been eligible for grant assistance through special services that they didn’t even know existed. That is what ASAP helps to do.

While the helpline is available nationwide, advice surgeries are offered at the local Citizens Advice Bureau. This allows for direct service at any CAB that a family can travel to.

This initiative is sponsored by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Poppyscotland, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Seafarers UK and SSAFA. It receives broad support because the nation’s defence depends on the wellbeing of those that choose to defend it.