The Royal British Legion has seen an increase in the number of veterans and their families in need of help with the cost of living and over the last 12 months has issued 20% more grants to help with food and basic living costs than in the previous year. The charity anticipates that the number of applications for help with the most urgent needs such as food, clothing and temporary accommodation will jump significantly in the coming months.
RBL has announced a new set of emergency energy cost top-up grants which will help those struggling to pay their energy bills with up to £200 per month depending on their financial circumstances.
Military widow and RBL beneficiary Frances Metcalf said: ‘My energy bills have increased by more than 100% in the past year. The cost of food is going up. Everything you can think of - interest rates, insurance. In February and March of this year I hardly turned the heating on and kept myself warm using a hot water bottle. The worry is the worst part. You can’t eat because of worry, and you don’t know which way to turn. The financial support the RBL has given me has helped no end - without it I would really struggle.’
The Royal British Legion’s Executive Director of Services, Antony Baines, said: ‘Many of the most vulnerable members of the Armed Forces community are facing this winter with genuine fear about how to pay their bills. Over the last year we have issued 20% more grants to some members of the Armed Forces community who simply cannot make ends meet. We sadly expect these figures to rise further, particularly over the Winter months. I am pleased to announce today that the RBL is now providing energy cost top up payments for those most in need through our new grants scheme. No one should have to worry about whether they will be able to keep the lights on, heat their homes or feed themselves and their families.’
Members of the Armed Forces community will in many cases face the same cost of living pressures as other people, but some are more vulnerable to rising costs and previous RBL research found that working-age adults in the veteran community are more likely to be sick or disabled than UK adults of the same age.
The energy cost top up grant announced by the RBL today is aimed at reducing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on veterans and their families in need of extra support and is designed to prevent them from reaching a point of crisis. Any member of the Armed Forces community wanting to access the grants can find out more and apply directly at rbl.org.uk/costofliving or call 0808 802 8080
