News (Cont......)


Citizens Advice service for RN Veterans

Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line (SAIL) is the only Citizens Advice service dedicated to seafarers across the UK.


SAIL has been giving support to merchant seafarers and fishermen for 20 years. It has now expanded and can give free advice to anyone who has ever served in the Royal Navy. We can also help their partners, widows and widowers.


Of course, this includes CONA members.


Advice is given by phone, email or letter. All advice is free, fast and confidential.


SAIL can give advice on all of these and many more –


* Benefits


*  Pensions


*  Debts and money problems


*  Housing issues


*  Problems at work


*  Maritime charity grants


*  Consumer problems


*  Family-related issues


*  Immigration


SAIL has 6 advisers, all of whom are professional and fully trained.


SAIL is independent from the government, and from the Royal Navy.


How to get advice


You can contact a SAIL adviser in any of these ways -


•    Call 08457 413 318 or 020 3597 1580 between 10 and 4 on weekdays. You can request an immediate call back if the call is expensive for you. There’s an answer phone service at other times.


•    Email advice@sailine.org.uk


•    Use the contact page on the SAIL website www.sailine.org.uk/contact-us


There's more information on the SAIL website www.sailine.org.uk


Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line (SAIL) is the only Citizens Advice service dedicated to seafarers across the UK.


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Scottish Veterans Residences


The Scottish Veterans Residences, offers accommodation and support to ex-servicemen/women in need.  We are the oldest ex-service charity in Scotland and since our formation in 1910 we have supported over 60,000 veterans.  We have three sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee with single occupancy en-suite rooms/flats with a wide range of excellent communal facilities.  Whilst we are most likely to be of interest to those returning to Scotland we have supported former UK Armed Forces personnel from a wide range of nationalities.


As you are aware at the point that they leave the military, personnel face impending homeless and joblessness often many miles from their support networks and with little experience of how things operate in the civilian world.  We are able to provide an extensive array of support that can help with transition/resettlement into civilian life including:


     1.  Fully qualified  housing/support staff able to assist with income maximisation, applying for   


          benefits, registering for housing and a host of life skills including registering with


          GPs/Dentists, budgeting etc.


     2.  Integrated therapeutic counsellors to help those with mental health issues and access to   


          other organisations such as the Veterans Welfare Service, Combat Stress and Veterans 1st


          Point.


     3.  Integrated Employment Mentors with access to considerable funding for courses as well as 


          expert guidance on CV writing, training, volunteering and employment opportunities.   


     4.  Access to funding to help veterans using our support services to furnish their permanent 


          accommodation when they move on.


     5.  Relationships with several social housing providers who are keen to house veterans coming


          from our service.


Scottish Veterans Residences offers service personnel assistance to transition into civilian life and can provide a level of resettlement far in excess to that which most servicemen/women are entitled to at the end of their career.  We help veterans apply for permanent, affordable accommodation and make best use of the wide range of support available to veterans whilst waiting for housing to become available.


Our website is http://www.svronline.org/


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Housing and Financial Guide for Veterans

A woman by the name of Lisa Manners was searching the web for support available to ex-servicemen like her grandad,  an injured veteran who is struggling financially. Her grandad told her that it is not uncommon for veterans to be struggling financially after they leave the forces, so she thought she would try to help. To this end Lisa has written a guide about housing and financial support available for veterans.  This is a very well written and informative guide and it can be found on our links page under the heading " Housing and Financial Guide for Veterans".  Do check it out, there are lots of usefull links to the many organisations that provide assistance and support to our Veteran community.


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Navy Deferred Pension

Did you serve after 6 April 1975 and leave before you had complete 22 years service or Officers after 16 years service? If so, you are reminded that you may be entitled to a preserved pension from age 60. Read on...........


Prior to 6 April 1975 there was no provision for a preservation of pension benefits and service

personnel who left the armed forces had to have completed 16 years from age 21 (officers) or 22

years from age 18 (other ranks). Those who left before that date without completing the above

criteria, lost all pension entitlement. (This is very unlikely to change despite appeals to the Govt)

The rules changed on 6 April 1975 to provide for pensions to be deferred for payment at age 60

for all those discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 31 March 1978

the age criterion was dropped and on 6 April 1988, the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2

years. Deferred pensions can be claimed at age 60 or at age 65 if your service began after 5

April 2006 and after that point. However, you can claim your preserved pension sooner if you

become permanently incapacitated.


Service pensions are administered by Veterans UK but pension payments are made by

Paymaster (1836) Ltd, the paying authority for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).

For further information For help and information on your armed forces pension please ring the

Veterans UK on 0800 085 3600 or write to:


Veterans UK Pension Division

Mail Point 480

Kentigern House

65 Brown Street

Glasgow, G2 8EX


Preserved Pension Claim Form:  AFPS (Form 8)

 

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New Metal Royal Naval Association Beret Badges

The National Council has decided that from 1 January 2020 that the RNA will move to metal beret badges.  This allows easier transfer for those who are members of more than one association, and also aligns more closely with the Royal Navy.  We have been working with Forever Jack on adapting the design of the 10 Area badge and we have now taken delivery of our first 1,000.  The NC has decided that there will be a free issue to all Area and Branch Standard bearers and that SB should wear the metal badge from 1 January 2019.  Those Areas and branches with an appointed Deputy SB may also apply for a grat issue.  The remaining 700 or so badges will be available at the highly discounted rate of £2.00 plus postage.  Subsequent orders will be at the cost price plus postage of about £4.50.  Non standard bearer members may continue to wear the cloth badge until 1 Jan 2020, but then must move across.  Applications for the badges to Nigel Huxtable. Assistant General Secretary at RNA Headquarters.

email:nigel@royalnavalassoc.com

Tel : 023 9272 3747.

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The Riders Branch of the Royal Naval Association

    Shipmates  may be interested to hear about the newly formed Branch of the RNA - the Riders Branch which was  commissioned in April 2018 and the formation of the Branch formally approved by National Conference in June 2018.

   Full membership is available to those who have an interest in motorcycling as well as a maritime background in the Armed Services e.g Royal Navy, Royal Marines and associate membership for those who have not served but who wish to support.   Its aim is to be diverse in their membership with all ages and genders included and to encourage all members to play an active role within the Branch nationally and as the membership increases into areas, forming local groups to meet.

     For many people this will be a second membership of the Association itself so that they can continue their support for their current branches in the UK and other parts of the world.       

     For more information email the Chairman, Bernie McPhillips (bmcphillips@btinternet.com) or  the Hon. Secretary, Roslyn Hastie-Murray (sec.ridersrna@yahoo.com ) or see the FaceBook page - Royal Naval Association Riders Branch.


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