Poppy Advice

HELPING YOU CLAIM WHAT'S RIGHTFULLY YOURS

Because The Royal British Legion cares, we'll campaign for your claim. Thousands of people in the UK are entitled to a War Pension, but many may not realise that they qualify. Every year the Legion's Pension Department helps 5,500 ex-Service men and women with new War Pension claims and give free representation at some 5,000 appeal cases.

	Disability Claims and Tribunals
	Legal Compensation Claims
	Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
	War Disablement Pensions and War Widow(er)'s Pension
	Careers

DISABILITY CLAIMS AND TRIBUNALS

The Royal British Legion's Disability Team offers individual support and assistance to disabled ex-Service people, their dependants, and those currently serving who consider that there disability, whether physical or psychological, is linked to their Service in the Armed Forces.

For many people, finding out which benefits you may be entitled to can be confusing - where do you start, who do you talk to, how do you apply, who do you turn to?

The Legion's Disability Team is dedicated to helping serving and ex-Service people and their dependants, of all ages, with advice and assistance on disability issues. With in-depth specialist knowledge and well established contacts with other agencies within the disability field, our team has invaluable experience. Advice and guidance is offered from initial Disability Benefit application completion through to Appeal Hearing Tribunals and onto the Commissioner's office if necessary.

The Disability Team provides representation for disabled serving and ex-Service people and their dependants at Appeal Tribunal Hearings in respect of Disability Benefits.

For help in Derbyshire contact Poppy Support in Derbyshire or by contacting the Disability Team in the Pensions and Disability Department by sending an email to disability@britishlegion.org.uk

LEGAL COMPENSATION CLAIMS

The Royal British Legion's Compensation Team assists serving and ex-Service members of the Forces taking legal action against the Ministry of Defence under Common Law for compensation for personal accident or injury through negligence. Claims for compensation can only be made for incidents after 15th May 1987. If you have sustained an injury or illness or personal accident because of negligence by the MoD within the last three years, you or your dependants may be able to claim financial compensation under Common Law.

Our Compensation Team will assist serving and ex-Service people and their dependants to take legal action against the MoD for personal injury, clinical negligence or death, caused by negligence.

It may be possible to make a Legal Compensation Claim when death or injury has been caused by an avoidable accident or poorly maintained equipment, vehicles, weapons or buildings. Claims are also possible if there has been negligent medical treatment or negligent prescription of drugs and medicines or the breaking of orders or rules by the MoD or its agents.

If you feel you may be eligible to claim, you can get more information by contacting the Compensation Team in the Pensions and Disability Department by sending an email to claims@britishlegion.org.uk

ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME (AFCS)

The Royal British Legion's Pensions Team assists serving and ex-Service people and their dependants claiming compensation from the Ministry of Defence. If you have sustained an injury or illness caused by Service, on or after 6th April 2005 you may be able to claim financial compensation under AFCS.

If you are serving or have served in the Armed Forces (including Ghurkas) or the Reserve Forces or are a dependant, you may qualify for compensation under the AFCS. The Scheme covers injury, illness and death caused by Service; a guaranteed payment can also be paid after discharge. For those no longer serving, it can give monthly guaranteed income payment for more severely disabled. For dependants, guaranteed income payment can be payable for life. Eligible children are also entitled to income payment. Claims under the AFCS must be made within five years of the date of injury, illness or death.

Please note that death, injury or ill health caused by Service on or before 5th April 2005 is assessed under the War Disablement Pension scheme and anyone already receiving a War Disablement Pension or War Widow(er)'s Pension will find the benefits unchanged.

If you feel you may be eligible to claim, you can get more information by contacting the Pensions Team in the Pensions and Disability Department by sending an email to claims@britishlegion.org.uk

WAR DISABLEMENT PENSION AND WAR WIDOW(ER)'S PENSION

War Disablement Pensions can be claimed by people who served in the Armed Forces between 1914 and 1921, or at any time between 2nd September 1939 and 5th April 2005. Ex-members of the Merchant Navy, the Coastguard Service, the Nursing Service and the Home Guard are eligible, as are those who served in the Polish Forces under British command during the Second World War. Civilians or ex-civil defence workers can also claim, as can the widow, widower, partner or dependant of someone who died as a result of their Service in the armed Forces.

Each year The Royal British Legion's Pensions Team helps thousands of ex-Service people and their eligible dependants with new War Pension claims and appeals. many people in the UK and abroad are entitled to a War Pension, but some may not realise that they qualify. If you were injured, disabled or have suffered an injury or illness on or before 5th April 2005, as a result of your Service in the Armed Forces , you may be entitled to a War Disablement Pension. The Legion's Pension Team offers individual support and assistance to ex-Service people, who consider their disability, whether physical or mental, is linked to their Service in the Armed Forces.

For help in Derbyshire contact Poppy Support in Derbyshire or by contacting the Pensions Team in the Pensions and Disability Department by sending an email to claims@britishlegion.org.uk

CAREERS

Get the new career you want with the help of civvystreet.org

After a successful career in the Forces, and you're looking for a new start, but who can guide you to discovering your potential and finding a fulfilling and rewarding job? The Royal British Legion's sponsored website civvystreet.org gives Service leavers and ex-Service men and women access to information on making a successful transition to civilian life. For those who would like extra support, civvystree.org includes one-to-one advice on building a CV, either online or via a freephone helpline. CV Builder can help you create a winning CV and show how to distribute it to your maximum advantage. You also have access to online Employment Fairs with chat rooms for job seekers and employers to talk to each other. There's a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section and other tools that are aids to overcoming barriers to job opportunities..

Your first step is to logon to www.civvystreet.org website, which has been designed exclusively to help members of the ex-Service community find information and advice in making a smooth transition from the Forces to civilian life, training and work possibilities. There are also links to other relevant and useful websites. So if you are about to leave the Forces, or have already left and are exploring the job market, give yourself the advantage of www.civvystreet.org. This service is only available online.