Financial assistance Policy

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Financial assistance Policy

Policy summary

This policy procedure provides support and information for police officers or police staff members and their families who experience financial difficulties or who require financial support. It provides details of organisations that can provide grants, loans and/or advice to

officers or staff and to their families.

The policy should be read in conjunction with the unmanageable debt policy, which provides guidelines to assist individuals with debt, while ensuring that the integrity and security of the Force is protected.

Some of the officers or staff members who may find this policy helpful may be covered by the provisions of the unmanageable debt policy.

Aims The aims of the policy are to explain:

• how and where you can obtain advice and assistance on financial issues; and

• what organisations are available to assist you.

Scope All police officers and police staff members.

Compliance Police Regulations 2003 Data Protection Act 1998 Code of Ethics

Code of conduct for police staff

Chapter 1 Principles

Introduction Regulation 6 and Schedule 1 Annex AA of the Police Regulations 2003 deals with restrictions on the private lives of members of police forces.

It provides that a member of a police force shall not wilfully refuse or neglect to discharge any lawful debt.

Incurring financial difficulties

Legal provisions and the fear that any report of indebtedness may be referred to the Professional Standards department for investigation may lead some individuals who find themselves in financial difficulties reluctant to seek help or advice.

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

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This may mean that problems which might have been resolved

following advice and support at an early stage can get worse and lead to civil proceedings and court judgements.

This policy guidance is intended to assist police officers or staff members and their families who experience financial difficulties and who would benefit from some outside support to help discharge debts or who require financial support following events such as a

bereavement or incapacity.

Seeking assistance

Affected officers and staff members are encouraged to discuss these issues with their manager or alternatively, seek advice or support from other sources such as staff associations and external organisations as detailed in this policy procedure.

If financial difficulties may become unmanageable refer to the

unmanageable debt policy procedure. In these circumstances you are advised to disclose the debt to your manager.

Chapter 2 Sources of financial assistance

Introduction Details are provided of various potential police related sources of financial assistance for police officer, police staff and/or their families who experience financial difficulties.

These details are intended to assist individuals to manage their financial difficulties.

West Yorkshire Police Benevolent and Loans Fund

What it is The West Yorkshire Police Benevolent and Loans Fund is a registered charity run from the Police Federation Office, which may, at the

discretion of the trustees, afford relief to serving or former officers of the Force and their dependants, widows and orphans who are in need.

Grants may include:

• financial assistance to widows;

• money towards childcare in emergency situations; and

• support for a terminally ill pensioner.

It also provides, at the discretion of the Trustees, interest free loans to serving officers within West Yorkshire Police who find themselves in temporary financial difficulties.

The benevolent and loans fund in the main is funded by subscriptions.

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Police Dependants’ Trust

What it is The purpose of the Police Dependants' Trust is to assist:

• dependants of police officers, or former police officers, who die, or have died, as a result of an injury received in the execution of duty;

and

• police officers, or former police officers, who are, or have been incapacitated as a result of an injury received in the execution of duty, or dependants of such officers.

The main aim of the Trust is to provide financial support by way of grants and it does this on the basis of need. Grants help to ease the additional pressures individuals and families face following the death or serious injury of a police officer.

How does the Trust help?

Grants can be provided in a number of ways:

Grants Description

Assistance Enable incapacitated officers and dependants to enjoy a better standard of living than might otherwise have been possible in the

circumstances. The grants are awarded to those whose income falls below a defined level.

Bereavement Grants can be provided to relieve the immediate financial pressures that can arise following bereavement.

Educational Support young people in further education or vocational training. These grants can be put towards the cost of essentials such as

accommodation and learning materials to help young people get the best start to adult life.

Residential care Help towards the cost of sheltered accommodation or residential care. The

Residential Care Grants are a fixed sum per year, de-pending on the main dependant’s income margin.

Special purpose Transform the lives of incapacitated officers by enabling their homes and/or cars to be adapted to suit their particular needs. These grants can pay for specialist equipment, help with the cost of bills or training, and be used for a wide variety of other purposes.

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National Police Fund

What it is The National Police Fund shares broadly the same eligibility criteria as the Police Dependants Trust i.e. financial support is provided on the basis of need and is administered by the Police Dependants’ Trust.

The Fund provides grants to:

• police dependants' who are in further education (university degree or vocational qualification);

• widows and orphans of police officers who were below inspector level at the time of their death or medical retirement;

• Police Benevolent Funds or Sports/Social Clubs; and

• other police charities and other bodies which assist the police service.

The St. George’s Police Children Fund

What it is The Trust provides financial assistance to support young people of school age one of whose parents is, or was, a serving police officer (who supported the Trust with regular payroll giving donations during their service) and is now:

• deceased; or

• partly or wholly incapacitated which affects their earnings capacity.

The Trust also provides financial support beyond statutory school age to children who enter higher and further education by way of:

• continuing the weekly maintenance allowance; or

• a Further Education Grant.

Income is mainly derived from a regular voluntary payroll giving donation from serving police officers in 19 forces across England, Wales and Scotland, one of which is West Yorkshire Police.

Additional income is derived from other donations, legacies and investment income.

The management and administration of operations is overseen by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Administrator of the Trust (who are all employees of The Police Treatment Centres).

Grants can be provided in the following areas:

• Weekly Support Allowance;

• further Education;

• ex-gratia matters; or

• Special Needs.

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Police Staff Benevolent Fund

What it is Financial assistance during times of hardship, distress or other difficulty is available to police staff members from the West Yorkshire Police (Employees) Benevolent Fund. This support is also available to former police staff members.

The type of assistance regularly rendered to colleagues can include:

• gifts for those who are or have been on extended sick leave, suffered a serious IOD or have been admitted to hospital;

• financial help in the form of loans for those in crisis situations;

• grants for convalescent care in cases of severe hardship; or

• grants to employees or their families in times of serious illness to purchase necessary aids and adaptations.

Trade Unions

Support available

Force trade unions may be able to provide educational bursaries or means tested grants in certain circumstances to their members.

Admin Last reviewed: December 2014

Scheduled for review: December 2016