Financial support for those in need

There are certain things a grant can not be used for:

• covering any legal costs
• repaying debts
• a loan
• for medical care (including counselling or psychotherapy - if you are seeking help with this, then please look at the Police Care UK counselling support)
• where state assistance or statutory services are available

Sadly no, we cannot fund private treatment outside the support provided by our own Confidential Careline. Click here to read more about the counselling available from Police Care UK.

The independent grants panel means-test all assistance grant applications, using the Joseph Rowntree Minimum Income Standard, before then asking three questions:

Q1: Does the household income exceed the JRF minimum income standard?

Q2: Is the application directly related to a physical or psychological injury sustained?

Q3: Does the application demonstrate reasons that are in-keeping with our charitable objects as to why an assistance grant is needed?

The JRF sets out what minimum income is required (as an average in the UK) to live a decent standard of living. Police Care UK uses this as a guide, because there are personal circumstances that this standardised tool could never factor in.

From the moment the application is fully complete, it can take up to 6 weeks to process an application. The independent grants panel meets monthly to review applications for assistance grants, but your case can only be submittied once we have all of the following:

• Confirmation of eligibility to apply (registration, which includes verifying police status)
• A fully completed assistance grant application form (which includes financial statements, JRF calculation, and any corroborating paperwork required by the claims manager)
• A visit report (if required by the welfare team)

If you meet the following criteria then you can apply for an assistance grant:

• Serving or veteran police officer, staff, or volunteer (including cadets and special constabulary) from any police force in the UK (43 territorial forces in England and Wales, Police Scotland, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Ministry of Defence Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, British Transport Police, National Crime Agency (and its associated units and teams), ports police, and the parks police).
• Family member who are (or in the case of a deceased police officer, staff, or volunteer, were at the time of death) financially reliant upon the police officer, staff or volunteer. This includes:
  • A spouse, civil partner, or partner (in the case of cohabiting couples, this must have been for a minimum period of 12 months). In the case of former spouses/partners, each case will be considered on its own merit.
  • A child (including a step or adopted child or grandchild where parental responsibility exists) of the qualifying police officer, staff, or volunteer who is either:
    • under compulsory school age
    • under 25 and in full-time education, or
    • requires ongoing care for a phsyical or mental impairment
  • Other family members by way of birth, marriage or civil partnership

We cannot offer benefits advice but suggest that you seek appropriate advice as to whether receipt of a grant will affect you entitlement to state benefits in any way. Advice about benefits may be sought from a benefits advice service or from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

We expect you to be claiming all state benefits to which you are entitled before making an application to us and you will be asked to confirm this is the case when making an application. To find out whether you are claiming all you are entitled to, please complete our confidential benefits checker online.