The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.
| In 2005 The Royal British Legion (TRBL) conducted comprehensive research into the needs of the ex-Service community. One of the key findings was the high level of financial problems encountered by this client group. To address this issue The Royal British Legion and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund agreed to fund Citizens Advice to provide a holistic service offering advice on benefits and money matters to serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families. |  |  |
Two years after its launch in December 2007, the Benefits and Money Advice Service is proving enormously successful in helping these clients deal with financial problems. There are currently 42 Benefits and Money Advisers at Citizens Advice Bureaux across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with an additional seven in-house TRBL advisers based at its headquarters and regional offices. A finalist in the Third Sector Excellence Awards, the scheme has helped over 8,100 people and addressed more than 37,000 problems. To date, clients are better off by a total of £19.2 million pounds, with this figure expected to grow significantly as more cases are resolved.
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Additional funding is also being provided to Citizens Advice to develop related information in AdviserNet and 
www.adviceguide.org.uk for ex-services personnel; enhance our social policy work in relation to serving personnel and veterans, and enhance our case management recording system in respect of this client group.
Robert* (aged 70), who served in the RAF, lives with his wife Martha* (68) in their own mortgaged property. They have health and debt problems, including mortgage arrears for which they had received a suspended possession order. They decided that the only way out of their problems was to sell their house. Robert and Martha were advised by The Royal British Legion to seek support from the Benefits and money advice service at their local CAB.
The bureau investigated their situation, and decided that there were options open to them, other than selling their home. A successful claim was made for pension credit which qualified them for immediate help with their mortgage. Applications were also made for attendance allowance and invalid care allowance.
These increased their income and subsequently qualified them for severe disability and carer premiums on pension credit. Once the benefits were in place, Robert and Martha were able to show that they could maintain all of their priority expenditure without further risk of arrears. The Royal British Legion then agreed to pay off their outstanding mortgage arrears preventing any repossession taking place. Using the Benefits and money advice service made the difference between them keeping or losing their home.
*Names have been changed to protect their anonymity.
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