The purpose of the fund
Our Dignity in Older Age Fund exists to help reduce financial pressure, improve stability, and support dignity in later life for police veterans (anyone who previously worked in a policing role, regardless of how or when they left) and bereaved partners who have been impacted by serious injury or death connected to policing.
After all my outgoings, I can be left with very little each week. This grant has been the difference between just surviving and having a better quality of life.Police veteran
Who this fund is for
You may be able to apply for a grant from this fund if you are:
• A physically injured police veteran (including officers, staff or volunteers) who has registered harm due to their policing role, and is at state retirement age or older
• A widow or widower, at state retirement age or older, who has registered the loss of a policing loved one through death on duty
In all cases, you must be registered with us.
Would you be eligible for this fund?
To make sure this support reaches those who need it most, applicants must:
- Be in receipt of a state pension, and any other relevant benefits
- Be claiming all eligible injury-related benefits, where applicable
- For injured veterans, be receiving an ill health pension and/or injury on
- duty award linked to the registered injury
- Have a household income below the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Minimum Income Standard for their household. You can check household income against the JRF standard using the https://www.minimumincome.org.uk/.
- Your household savings and capital must not exceed £10,000.
The dignity in older age fund can help with:
Topping-up household income, bringing it in line with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Minimum Income Standard. The amount awarded varies depending on:
- Household circumstances
- Levels of financial hardship
What is the maximum funding available?
- Grants are usually awarded up to
- In exceptional cases, awards above
Exceptional cases are reviewed carefully, considering the following:
- The severity of the injury caused by policing
- How long you are likely to wait for statutory support
- Your financial situation and household circumstances
- You can apply once per financial year to this fund.
All applications are reviewed individually by our Independent Grants Panel, using the JRF Minimum Income Standard as part of the assessment process.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Registration allows us to verify harm linked to policing and is required before applying for any financial support.
Yes. Applications can be submitted at any time, but the grant is awarded only once per financial year.
You won’t be eligible for this fund if you are already receiving ongoing charitable grants for the same purpose.
Yes. Our welfare advisors can support you through the process and help you understand what information is needed.
Grants are discretionary and not intended to be treated as income, but individual circumstances vary. We recommend checking with a benefits advisor or HMRC.
The difference this support can make
-
£5,000
Helped households who were, on average, £5,000 below the JRF minimum income level
