RBL and RAFBF Service Details

Royal British Legion/ Royal Air Force Benefits and Money Advice

• The Royal British Legion/Royal Air Force benefits and money service, provided by Citizens Advice, offers advice on a range of welfare and benefits issues, including money and debt advice. Trained advisers offer a free and confidential service for dealing with money worries, including checking entitlement to state benefits and dealing with debt.

• The service is open to all currently serving and ex-service personnel, their dependants and carers.

• It was launched in England and Wales in 2007 and extended to Northern Ireland in 2009.

• In Northern Ireland there are four specialist regional caseworkers for face-to-face benefits and money advice.

• In addition, a fifth advisor in Northern Ireland provides a dedicated telephone helpline 0845 266 6696 and offers email advice on rbl.rafbf@citizensadvice.co.uk.  The helpline advisor can refer clients to the appropriate regional caseworker if a face-to-face appointment is needed.

• Clients can be referred through welfare workers or self refer through the helpline or email.

• The advisers, who have all had security vetting, work on a special encrypted system which cannot be accessed by any outsider.  They are sympathetic to the concerns of the service community.

• Uptake of benefits is low among this group.  A disproportionate number of the ex-service community are living in poverty, although there is help available to them to significantly improve the quality of their lives.  We have found that over 60% of our clients are not accessing the benefits they are entitled to.

• Since October 2009 we have advised over 800 clients in Northern Ireland, with £1.2m in benefits gained and debt reduced.

There is a more detailed account of the UK wide service on the British Legion website:  http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/poppy-advice/benefits-and-money-advice-service.