RAF Benevolent Fund provides grants and financial assistance

Operating nationwide, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund provides assistance with living expenses to serving personnel as well as their families. The charity organization will also help veterans, and a number of grants can be issued to help clients pay for needs such as rent arrears, food, fuel bills, and more.

While the programme was launched over 80 years ago, the results of studies by the charity show that many people do not know of this fund or they do not seek to apply. So to address this issue they are partnering with other groups, including local councils, to create adverts to get the word out on the financial assistance they provide. Funds are available for those who are in need of financial help or are facing a crisis, and the Welfare and Policy department from the Benevolent Fund will do their best to assist all applicants.

Uses of grants from Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Many forms of assistance are provided, depending on the results of an assessment and determining what is needed from the applicant. Grants can be issued to pay for different types of bills, ranging from fuel arrears to assisting with home repairs or rent. There is also assistance for health care, disabilities, and other needs. More uses of the funds are below.

• Care costs are available for both nursing and residential homes.
• Financial assistance can help with mobility needs for the disabled or elderly.
• Funds can be paid out on a weekly basis to people living on a state pension, and the grants can be used for any type of bill the client has, whether fuel, rental payment, appliances, or others.
• Respite or welfare breaks are paid for, and those giving care can use different sites across the nation, including houses on the South coast.
• For families that are homeless, then the RAF Benevolent Fund can provide a grant to pay a rent deposit or other resettlement costs.
• Assistance from the fund is for people with a disability, and this can include home dependability, equipment such as scooters or computers, and any other items needed.
• Housing payments can be made, including for rent arrears or a mortgage.
• Free food can be provided in an emergency as well as more long term aid, such as vouchers to a food bank.
• Grants can be used to pay for fuel bills, such as electricity, gar arrears or phone expenses, and the RAF wants all households to stay warm during the winter.
• Personnel on a long-term Disability Living Allowance can receive a sickness maintenance grant as well.

The reason the RAF Benevolent Fund was created was to reach out to the less fortunate and personnel that are struggling, and people should always ask for help. While over £15 million may be spent each year to help thousands of people, more funds are available from the RAF Benevolent Fund and individuals just need to apply.

One of the reasons many people may not seek assistance from the fund, or know they can apply, as they think they will not be eligible or they are embarrassed. All applications are reviewed in confidence, and the financial assistance is also available to anyone that has ever served, no matter how long their National Service was.

Even if financial aid is not needed, but maybe someone just needs free advice, then that can be provided too. Volunteers and care workers from the fund can direct applicants to other local or national programmes or schemes, help them enroll into job training, offer relationship counseling or arrange for advice on debt arrears. So a number of different programmes are provided by the charity.

Volunteers from the charity can help someone apply too, if they have questions on the process. There are many people that donate their time and money to the charity, and individuals are located around the nation. They can meet with people in their homes if needed to provide advice on the application process and other support.

The address of the charity is RAF Benevolent Fund, 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR. The customer support number is 0800 169 2942, and people can call to apply or for more information.