C o m m u n i t y / A n d f i n a l l y . . . It’s not ALL about Veterans
The MOD’s merger of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency with the Veterans’ Agency to form the Service Personnel and Veterans’ Agency (SPVA) aimed to improve personnel, pensions, welfare and support services to members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Nearly two years on, the Agency believes the system is working…..
T
he MOD places great store on the provision of high quality support services to serving military personnel, ex-Service men and women
and their respective family members. Tey believe there were clear customer and business benefits in merging the two organisations and the formation of the SPVA seems to be gradually leading to the provision of a fully integrated set of ‘through life’ service to the serving and veteran communities where a single contact with the Agency will grant access to information and advice on pay, pensions, compensation payments, records of service and medal entitlement.
Those contacting the service have the reassurance and comfort that they are being heard by just one MOD organisation, from the moment they join the Armed Forces, to the point at which they no longer draw their pension. SPVA prides itself by being staffed by caring, experienced people who make it
their business to understand and empathise with the service community.
The responsibility for all pension provision, whether a war pension or an Armed Forces pension now falls under the direct control of SPVA, reducing the risk of omitting or duplicating information and providing, for the first time, a truly joined up pension service.
A Word on the word ‘Veteran’. This word often conjures up a particular image – that of our older generation who served magnificently in WWII. However, anyone who served in HM Forces, regardless of when, how long for and whether in conflict or peacetime is by definition a veteran. If you were in the Royal Navy, Army or Air Force, even if only for one day, you are a veteran and as such can access a vast network of support and guidance.
How the Agency helped Robert and Sarah… A call to the Agency notified the Helpline of, Robert, a disabled veteran, and his partner, Sarah.
Homeless through no fault of their own, they were living in a car in a public car park and using nearby conveniences to wash and launder their clothes. Their only income was Robert’s service and war pension. They were both at the end of their tether.
An SPVA welfare manager met them that same day given them advice on entitlement to additional benefits and allowances. The local council was contacted and arrangements were made to place them in temporary housing.
By working in partnership with the council and the Royal British Legion, permanent accommodation was found and Robert and Sarah have been able to make a fresh start. Robert says “I hit lucky with Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and now I’m back on my feet.”
There is a wealth of information about the service and how they can help on their website at:
www.veterans-uk or there is a freephone number 0800 169 2277.
And finally . . . READER Offers
Dear RAF Families Federation Thank you for the tickets to visit Twycross Zoo (Reader Offer). My family and I had a wonderful time and we were really pleased that we entered the competition.
We met a lovely monkey called Josie who took great interest in my daughter’s handbag. She watched us empty out the contents, checked it was empty and then nodded her head at each item until they had all gone back in the bag. She kept us amused for hours! The elephants were sweet, using their noses to look for grass along the edge of their cage. We were all surprised at how tall the giraffes were and how quiet the gorillas were. The zoo keepers were fantastic and always happy to explain, and answer questions, about the animals. We will certainly be going back in the summer. The journey to the zoo is very easy and
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
straightforward. Parking is simple and you can even buy a decent meal there, if you don’t want to take a picnic.
Good luck and keep on writing the magazine it is a brilliant resource for families, and servicemen. My husband was especially interested in the adaptive skiing article as he has just completed this course and will be teaching himself in March.
Kind regards Tania Scutt
Well done to the Winners of the Winter Offers. They are:
27 Exotic Orchid Stems donated by Nursery Fresh Flowers Kathryn Davis, Gatenby, North Yorkshire
Relaxing Overnight Break at Ragdale Hall Susy Matthews, Lee-on- Solent, Hampshire
Spring 2009
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