Making A Difference

The ATS & WRAC Association Benevolent Fund awards one-off and recurring financial grants to purchase specific goods, services or facilities for eligible former servicewomen, or their dependents, in need. The charity also provides annual maintenance grants to former servicewomen who are either elderly, alone, living on low incomes or in ill health, and makes contributions to top-up care-home fees.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HELP?
Any former ATS or WRAC servicewoman, including TA, with one day’s paid service or more, is eligible for assistance.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CRITERIA?
Yes, you must be in need of financial help. There’s also a limit on the amount of savings that you can have above which the Benevolent Fund is unable to make an award. To qualify for a maintenance grant you must be living alone on a basic state pension and in poor health.

ONE OFF GRANTS
The fund has helped with one-off grants in a wide range of categories including:

House repairs and adaptations
Mobility aids
Funeral expenses
Priority debt
Clothing and Food
Central heating/boilers
Household and white goods
Removal and travel expenses
Rent, deposits and bonds
Respite Breaks
REGULAR CHARITABLE PAYMENTS:

Princess Royal Memorial Fund Annual Maintenance Grants (AMG) – a grant to help with day-to-day living expenses. Applicants will be of State Retirement Age, living on a low income and demonstrate need for such assistance.

Overseas Princess Royal Memorial Fund Annual Maintenance Grant (Overseas PRMF AMG) – these have the same criteria as the AMG but for those ex service women living overseas.

Ben Fund Annual Maintenance Grant (AMG) – this grant is for applicants below state pension age where there is a long term need for support. It would apply to those who are unable to find employment through no fault of their own, persistently poor health or due to caring for family members.

Ben Fund Support Supplement (SS) – a short term grant of variable duration for those applicants below State Retirement Age. It can be used to cover income shortfalls arising from delays in receiving state benefits or short term loss of salary due to medical treatment.

Care Enhancement Grant (CEG) – weekly assistance for beneficiaries of state pensionable age to cover nursing/care home fees top up, care at home or a personal expense allowance for those resident in a nursing/care home.

All Regular Charitable Payments are reviewed on an annual basis.

SO HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR HELP?
If you are a former ATS or WRAC regular or TA servicewoman who needs assistance, or if you know someone who is, then your first port of call is your local branch of SSAFA or regional Royal British Legion (RBL) office. SSAFA or the RBL will arrange for a trained caseworker to interview you in your home to establish the full range of assistance that you need. The caseworker will complete a report that includes details of your household income. This is called means-testing and ensures that your Benevolent Fund’s charitable money goes to those in real need. When the report is complete it is sent to the Benevolent Fund Secretary. Once received, applications are considered at the appropriate grants committee meeting and a decision is taken.

 

0800 260 6767

(or click logo to go to their website)

 

 

0808 802 8080

(or click logo to go to their website)

 

 

0131 550 1557

(or click logo to go to their website)

 

 

Whilst the Association doesn’t take applications for assistance directly, you’re welcome to contact the Benevolence Fund Secretary for an informal chat on 07741 327094 or benfund@wraca.org.uk.

Are you currently in hardship and struggling to make ends meet?

The Benevolent Fund has formed a new partnership with The Veterans Charity.  The charity delivers rapid support directly to Veterans who find themselves battling hardship.  

The Veterans Charity supply vital provisions including food shopping, clothing, household goods, utilities support, smartphones/tablets and even temporary emergency accommodation.  

You can submit a Support Request here.

The partnership means that the charity will assess and deliver immediate needs support on behalf of and funded by the WRAC Association.  Requests for non urgent items and long term support should still be submitted through SSAFA or RBL.

Thank you so much for helping my client. She is absolutely delighted and very grateful for your support. Her son is her carer and now their lives will be much easier with these items. Thank you very much.

£238.97 White Goods

When I told XXX about the award, she burst into tears and stated that she had just been wondering how she was going to pay all these increasing bills. She is really grateful and always thanks me for the help she gets from SSAFA and the Benevolent Fund. Thank you.

£2,670 (£50 pw) Ben Fund Annual Maintenance Grant.

Thank you for all your assistance with this WW2 veteran’s request for home help costs, it’s greatly appreciated.

£5,200 (£100 pw) Care Enhancement Grant for Care at Home.

Mrs XXX’s daughter, would like me to pass on her thanks for your very kind grant.  She is overwhelmed at the support provided to her mother at this difficult time. I will now arrange the assistance ready for her house move .

£861.74 for Removals, £1,382.95 for Brown goods (Carpets & General) and £514.22 for White goods.