Y o u r M o n e y
Your T
Money
he Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund has teamed with The Royal British
Legion to fund a unique Benefits and Money Advice Service through Citizens Advice. The charities decided to take action after a Royal British Legion survey showed the high level of financial problems encountered by people across the Armed Forces.
Anyone in the Service community in need of advice can apply through a Royal British Legion caseworker or through their local Citizens Advice Bureau. Someone will then be able to sit down with each applicant, gaining an understanding of the situation, before talking them through their options.
In its first nine months, the service has improved the lives of over 2,000 Serving and ex-serving people. So far debts totaling some £850,000 have been written-off and over £565,000 in benefits have been claimed for those using the service.
Help and Advice are at Hand
Why the service was set up The charities set up the Benefits and Money Advice Service to provide support for members of the Serving community who are struggling financially. That was the case for Corinne Knight, after her fiancé, Sergeant Bob O’Connor, was killed when his RAF Hercules aircraft was brought down over Iraq in 2005. The mother of four was left devastated, but instead of being able to grieve, she had to deal with a lack of support and funds.
The arrangements the couple had made to be financially co-dependent were yet to be finalised when Sergeant O’Connor was called up for a tour of Iraq, so when he died, her financial support ceased. She had to survive on credit cards and her debts rapidly accumulated. Fortunately, the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in to help to get her back on her feet again. Ms Knight said, “I was desperate. I didn’t know which way to turn. And I’m not sure what I would have done without the help of the RAF Benevolent Fund.”
Ernie Bohm, Director of Policy and Plans at the Benevolent Fund, said, “The success of this service is clearly reflected in the very tangible and positive effects it is having on the lives of members of the RAF family.”
How to apply – For a full list of contact numbers for all bureaux please visit the RAF Benevolent Fund website at www.rafbf. org Alternatively, call the Legionline on 08457 725 725 or the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Supportline on 0800 169 2942.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
Winter 2008
29
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