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.
We want to help as many people as possible, and while we do have some eligibility criteria in place, our team is always happy to talk through your situation. Click on the registration information button to find out who we can support and what you'll need to meet to apply.
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 to top up to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation minimum income standard
- In exceptional cases, awards can be above this
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.
How to apply
Applications are open all year, but grants are awarded once per financial year.
Before applying, you must be registered with us, and your registration must include evidence showing the harm caused by your policing role.
We encourage joint applications with other police benevolent funds or charities, where appropriate.
All applications are reviewed individually by our Independent Grants Panel, using the JRF Minimum Income Standard as part of the assessment process.
You can apply online or by post once you have registered:
Complete our online application form , or
Contact us if you have questions
Here’s a list of the type of information you will be expected to provide in your application:
Our welfare team can talk this through with you, step by step.
A clear explanation of what funding is requested and how it will support you
- Income and expenditure details for you and your household
- To assess financial need fairly, we will ask for:
- Three months of recent bank statements for you and any adult household members
- Details of any savings or financial assets
- To assess financial need fairly, we will ask for:
- Information about other sources of funding already received or applied for
- Supporting evidence for your registered injury, such as an Occupational Health or medical report
- Details of any statutory support explored through the NHS or local authority (where relevant)
- Any additional information requested by your grants advisor
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
