Part of The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Advice scheme, the award winning benefits and money advice service is a partnership between The Royal British Legion, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Northern Ireland.
It provides specialist benefits and money advice to serving and former members of the armed forces and their dependants.
Trained benefits and money advisers have helped clients make an average financial gain of £3,131 each and can assist with:
You can find your nearest adviser in a number of ways:
Online advice on specific issues relating to armed forces veterans and their families is also available:
Claire previously served in the Army, but was now an unemployed single mother with two young children. Claire fell into serious rent arrears and was threatened with eviction. On top of this Claire also had council tax, gas, electric and water arrears and a benefit overpayment, totalling more than £15,000.
As a result of housing arrears Claire was refused help by her housing authority to relocate in order to be able to attend university and retrain as a nurse.
As a result of her debt situation Claire was suffering from long term depression.
After speaking to a Benefits and Money Advice Adviser, The Royal British Legion and Army Regiment Fund cleared Claire’s benefit overpayment, council tax and rent arrears. This allowed Claire to be housed near to her university almost immediately. The Legion supported Claire with removal costs and provided her with essential household items and some equipment for her children.
Claire is now almost debt-free, leaving her able to study and pursue another career and support herself. Claire said that the advice and financial support she has received has changed her life and that she feels her children’s prospects for a secure future have greatly improved.
*Name has been changed to protect anonymity.
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