This information has been put together to give you an overview of some of the services that are available to you. For further information please contact RN FPS at [email protected]
SERVICE-RELATED SUPPORT
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Northern Ireland Resident Supplement: Provides a daily rate for personnel on permanent assignment in Northern Ireland to offset extra regional service pressures.
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Motor Insurance Refunds: Reimburses additional motor insurance costs specifically incurred due to a permanent assignment in Northern Ireland.
White Ensign Association is a charity which provides confidential, independent FREE advice on all personal
finance matters to all Serving and ex-Serving members of the RN, RM and Reserves and their families.
www.whiteensign.co.uk
Tel: 07384 575598
Seafarer’s Advice & Information Line (SAIL)
"SAIL is the only UK-wide Citizens Advice for seafarers and their partners. We are all experienced professional advisers who understand the issues you face.
SAIL’s help is completely free. We provide support by phone, email and Zoom. SAIL also has monthly advice outreaches at Care Ashore, VOS and QVSR.
We’re all Citizens Advice trained and the quality of our advice is checked regularly.
www.sailine.org.uk
Tel: 0800 160 1842
Services Insurance and Investment Panel (SIIAP) is a collection of authorised insurance and independent
investment advisers, recognised by the MOD and operating on behalf of Service personnel. Members of
SIIAP operate to a strict code of practice and all are specialists in their own area of expertise.
www.siiap.org
Royal British Legion (RBL):
Forces Mutual offer free financial advice to members of the Armed Forces and their families to manage
money worries with free debt advice.
www.forcesmutual.org
Tel: 0151 363 5290
Defence Discount Service (DDS) is the MODs Official Discount Service which is available to all Serving
personnel, their partners and Veterans. DDS also provides a Defence privilege card at a small cost which
ensures members who do not hold a MOD 90 access to all high street discounts.
www.defencediscountservice.co.uk
HM Forces Rail Card costs £21 and it'll save you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole
year. This is available to all Service personnel and their spouse/civil partner and dependent children and is
administered by the Unit Personnel or HR Office within the assigned Unit.
www.hmforces-railcard.co.uk
Joining Forces Credit Union
About Joining Forces: In 2015 the Ministry of Defence launched payroll deduction with three credit unions – helping Service Personnel to save and borrow with deductions from their salary.
The initiative, known as Joining Forces, aims to help improve the financial resilience of Service Personnel and their families – providing an ethical, not-for-profit, alternative to other financial providers.
Supported by the Ministry of Defence the Joining Forces Credit Unions provide financial education and awareness throughout the Armed Forces – helping Service Personnel save money to help prepare for their transition to civilian life and provide an option to borrow responsibly throughout their service career and beyond.
Forces Law offers a wide range of services to meet the legal needs of Serving personnel and their families.
The forces law network of solicitors exists to provide you with an easy way of contacting a firm that will be
able to help you, wherever you may be. They can offer legal advice on all matters, from civilian issues to
court martial.
www.forceslaw.com
Tel: 0808 271 0444
The role of the Commissioner is to provide independent and impartial oversight of the Service Complaints system for members of the UK Armed Forces, and to act as a direct point of contact for serving personnel and their families, who will be able to raise general service welfare concerns that may impact on their service lives and their ability to serve.
The Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO) represents the whole Serving and Veterans
Community. It provides details of Charities who promote and further the welfare and general interests of the
Armed Forces Community and includes our Naval Service Charities which can also be sourced via RN FPS
Information Support Office.
www.cobseo.org.uk
Royal British Legion (RBL) helps the whole Armed Forces community through welfare, companionship and
representation as well as being the Nation's custodian of Remembrance. They offer advice and support on a
whole range of topics, including benefits and money advice, benevolent help as well as family holiday breaks
and a telephone helpline, free will service etc. RBL also have ‘Pop in Centre’s in various locations across the
UK.
www.britishlegion.org.uk
Helpline Tel: 0808 802 8080
Turn2us provides financial advice, information and guidance on benefits and grants available to serving
members of the Armed Forces and Veteran.
www.turn2us.org.uk
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) provide a range of support to Serving
personnel, veterans and their families including the Forces Helpline, Short Breaks, Additional Needs and
Disabilities Forum and a National Volunteer programme.
www.ssafa.org.uk
Tel: 0800 260 6780
Forces Helpline: 0800 260 6780
Veterans UK help ex-Service personnel get appropriate support from government, local authorities,
independent bodies and the charity sector. They also administer the armed forces pension schemes and
compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through Service and also provide welfare support for
veterans through a national Veterans Welfare Service and veteran’s helpline facility.
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
Service Pensions support is provided by Veterans UK. The ‘Service to Civvy Street’ campaign provides
guidance to Service Personnel to ensure they are ‘pension ready’ for Civvy Street.
www.gov.uk/government/news/service-to-civvy--2
Veterans Gateway is made up of a consortium of organisations and Armed Forces charities including The
Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Combat Stress to offer a ‘first point of contact’ for veterans seeking support.
www.veteransgateway.org.uk
Tel: 0808 802 1212
Pax Insurance:
Main site: www.paxinsurance.co.uk
Tel: 0800 2124 800
Offer a range of insurance plans including kit, travel and personal accident or life insurance.
A Personal Accident Plan can help protect you and your family against potential financial hardship should the worst happen.
You may apply for PAX Personal Accident and Optional Life and Critical Illness Insurance for yourself, and if
applicable, your family, if you are a member of HM Regular Armed Forces, in Full Time Reserve Service or
on a Non-Regular Permanent Staff engagement.
National Insurance Credits for Spouses new Class 3 NI credits have been introduced in recognition of the
fact that accompanying on deployment overseas may have affected a Service spouse or civil partner’s ability
to work and pay NI contributions.
www.gov.uk/dwp/ni-credits-armed-forces-partners
Service Will is available at no cost through the UPO/Ships Office however this will is a basic one and if you
have a complex lifestyle or have valuable assets it is always good to speak with a Solicitor or Will Writer. It is
beneficial for Service personnel to note on JPA if they have a Will and where it is stored.
www.forceslaw.com
OTHER SUPPORT
Citizens Advice:
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing
free independent and confidential advice.
Get help with the cost of living - Citizens Advice
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
StepChange Debt Charity offers free debt advice and money management support.
www.stepchange.org
Tel: 0800 138 1111
National Debtline offers free debt advice online through its My Money Steps tool and its web guides, fact
sheets and sample letters.
www.nationaldebtline.org
Money Helper’s range of guides, online tools and calculators make managing your money in uncertain
times simpler.
www.moneyhelper.org.uk
Payplan offer advice and guidance on how to manage your money effectively and understand the impact
your finances can have on every aspect of your life, with their Financial Education and Financial Wellbeing
tools.
www.payplan.com
Department of Work and Pensions provides support with work, benefits and pensions.
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about
Government help with childcare costs information can be found by visiting the ‘childcare choices’
website.
www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Unbiased is a website where you will find independent and restricted ‘whole of market’ advisers. Restricted
‘whole of market’ means advisers who can offer available products from all companies, but who may
specialise in a particular area, such as pensions.
www.unbiased.co.uk
Law Society holds details of Solicitors across England and Wales, including those that are members of
Forces Law.
www.lawsociety.org.uk
Gov.uk has a search engine to help you find a legal advisor or family mediation that have a legal aid
contract within England and Wales.
http://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/
Law Scotland holds details of Solicitors and a network of legal support.
www.lawscot.org.uk
Law Society Northern Ireland holds a comprehensive list of Solicitors.
www.lawsoc-ni.org/solicitors
Wills It is a commonly held and incorrect belief that the next of kin will automatically receive the proceeds
from an estate and all effects in the event of death; all too often this is found not to be the case. If a married
person dies ‘Intestate’, i.e. without a will, the spouse may only be entitled to a portion of the estate. Some of
the Armed Forces Charities, such as RBLI, offer free Will writing services.
www.gov.uk/make-will/overview
Powers of Attorney are legal documents with which you give someone power to look after your finances
and/or your health and welfare. There are two main types. Permanent powers of attorney can only be used
if you lose mental capacity to make decisions for yourself and general or ordinary powers of attorney where
you give someone power to manage your finances in specific circumstances. If you only want someone to
be able to use your bank account, you can ask your bank to set up a third-party mandate.
www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/overview
