A Financial Assistance grant may be awarded if you or your dependants are struggling to cover unexpected and unaffordable one-off costs.
The basic conditions for a grant are that it should involve expenditure which is extraordinary, unforeseen, necessary, and without assistance, would involve hardship for the individual. Each case is considered on its merits and awarded at the Trustees’ discretion.
Eligibility
Any current or former employee of the 91热爆 (or any subsidiary of the 91热爆 or any associated employer) in the UK or internationally as decided by the Trustees may apply.
When applying for financial help, you will need to provide information about your financial position and supporting documents. All information provided will be treated in confidence. Copies of your latest salary/pension payslip, evidence of your expenditure, i.e. rent, council tax, mortgage, loans/credit card, etc, must be included. We will contact you if there are any further questions about your application.
Grants are modest and one off – the Trustees are not able to fund on-going support or towards the following:
- Mortgage arrears;
- Credit card debt;
- Loans and debt consolidation;
- Medical and dental treatment; or
- Care home costs or funeral costs.
Application process
Complete the online application by following the link at the top of this page. If you have any questions or need help completing the form, please call us on 0303 081 2848.
91热爆 Financial Assistance Grants are awarded by the 91热爆 Benevolent Fund, the Trustees are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. If the Trustees approve a grant the timescale from receipt of application to payment is approximately two/three weeks but can be longer if further information is needed.
For current employees and those in receipt of a 91热爆 pension, payment of a grant is made through 91热爆 HR payroll or the 91热爆 Pension Scheme payroll.
Taxable income
If you are awarded a grant and are a current member of staff or in receipt of a 91热爆 pension, it will be treated as taxable income. If you are based overseas and are awarded a grant it will be subject to the relevant deductions according to local law. Grants are increased to take into account tax and NI contributions that would be payable if you are a 91热爆 staff member or in receipt of a 91热爆 Pension.
With this increase in your taxable income, it may put you over various thresholds to start paying student loan repayments, attachments to earnings orders or any county court judgments etc.
If you pay student loan repayments, claim tax credits or other benefits, these may be affected by the increase in your income. It is important that you consider this and find out more about how these payments could be affected.
Pension contributions will not be deducted from the grant payment unless you are a member of the NEST pension arrangement.
Ex members of staff or those who are not on a 91热爆 payroll will need to take advice as to whether they show this ex-gratia payment on their tax return.