Funding and Support

Council Tax, utility bills, groceries and rent; these are just some of the financial commitments that many Veterans face for the first time when they leave the Services. Because bills have previously been deducted from pay at source, it can be a challenge to budget for them, yet failing to do so can bring long-lasting negative consequences.

In this section we provide direction to credit unions, which can offer a wide range of affordable financial services, and to debt advice and support organisations that can give advice to avoid and, if necessary, recover from debt.

Some useful websites include:

National Debt Line

The law about debt is different depending on whether you live in England and Wales or Scotland. If you live in Scotland, make sure you are in our Scottish site so you get the right advice.

Scotland's Financial Health Service

Welcome to Scotland’s Financial Health Service website (SFHS). This Scottish Government website is the place to come if you have financial concerns or are just seeking useful, free and impartial advice which you can trust.

Government Guide to Benefits, Tax Credits and Other Support

A number of veterans are unaware of the various benefits and other support that they may be eligible for and as such the link below will offer advice and guidance.

Benefits Calculator

You may be missing out on financial help that you are entitled to through welfare benefits. The entitled to calculator can help you check what you might be able to claim.

To refine your searches by local authorities choose from the form below and click search.

Social Security Scotland

Stakeholder resources

We want to work in partnership with our stakeholders. This is where you can find resources for you to help us promote the benefits we deliver. If you would like to request any hard copies of our resources please complete the Marketing Materials request form below.

Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment

Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment

Best Start Grant School Age Payment

Carer's Allowance Supplement

Funeral Support Payment

General Resources

Education and training funding for veterans

You can get help paying for qualifications whether you:

are planning on leaving the armed forces
have already left and want to know more about your options

MORE INFO

The Veterans' Foundation Grant Applications

Trustees of the Veterans Foundation allocate grants every three or four months. They welcome applications from Armed Forces charities and other organisations carrying out charitable work for serving or veteran members of the Armed Forces, qualifying merchant seamen, and their dependants, who are in need. Deadlines for applications are the end of December, March, May and September each year. Further details can be found on the website www.veteransfoundation.org.uk/grant-application/ .

Additional sources of funding for charities, community groups or social enterprise.

Find funding for your charity, community group or social enterprise using online websites. From small grants to funding for big capital projects, using these tools you can track down various sources of funding you need to make a difference in your community. We have listed several of these organisation that you may wish to engage with regarding future funding of your projects.

MORE INFO

Funding websites

Join over 3,000 subscribers to the best-selling funding websites for charities, containing more sources, commentary and funding analysis than anywhere else.

MORE INFO

The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)

The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) is part of the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau Service. We can assist with:• benefits – entitlements, support with applications and appeals against decisions;• debt and money advice – budgeting, debt management, income maximisation and improving your financial situation;• housing – whether you rent, are an owner occupier or are homeless;• work-related problems -terms and conditions, dismissal, sickness absence, intimidation, unfair dismissal and redundancy issues; • consumer issues – help with everything from broken kettles to difficulties with gas and electricity supply;• relationships – issues relating to separation, children, bereavement and other family matters;• Service-related matters, including referrals to the appropriate organisation to help you.

The Scottish Welfare Reform Advisory Service

Tel: 03445151310 Email: cotnact online

Benefits, housing and debt – give your clients a head start

Welcome to this introduction to welfare benefits, housing and debt for frontline advice and support staff in Scotland. Advice is from Shelter Scotland and the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland. Benefits, housing and debt are often connected so it makes sense to think and talk about them together. This website is intended to help you support your client to:

know what changes to the benefits system are ahead that may affect people’s money or housing
help you spot possible and existing debt and money issues for your client and suggest ways of managing these
check ways of preventing evictions and homelessness
signpost for further help.

How to use the service

You may find the information you need to support your client by checking the benefits, housing or debt sections of this website.
Didn’t find the answer you need? Call the advice line or email.
- For housing or debt advice call Shelter Scotland’s advice line for advisers on 0344 515 1310 or email Scotwras@shelter.org.uk (we aim to answer emails within three working days).
- For advice about benefits call CPAG in Scotland’s advice line for advisers on 0141 552 0552 or email advice@cpagscotland.org.uk (we aim to answer emails within 10 working days).

www.scotwras.org

The Trasport Credit Union Ltd.

Tel: 0141 221 7474

186 Argyle Street , Glasgow G2 8HA

www.scotcu.co.uk

The Value Credit Union Ltd.

Tel: 0141 222 2259

87 Bath Street , Glasgow G2 2EE

www.valuecreditunion.co.uk/

The White Ensign Association

LT Cdr Michael Howell – Area representative for Scotland
Tel: 02079 408 131 Email: mike.howell@whiteensign.co.UK-wide

HMS Belfast , Tooley Street, London WE1 2JH

The White Ensign Association’s mission is to inform and provide guidance to all serving and former members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, their Reserves and also to their dependants on finance and personal administration, and employment and resettlement on an unbiased, confidential and free basis.

http://www.whiteensign.co.UK-wide/wordpress/