In the vast majority of cases the Regimental Benevolent Funds will refer into the ABF if required – should one of the very small funds not be responding then please do call the ABF team.

*Please note the rule of thumb is that a Regimental/Corps Benevolent Fund will not refer a case to the ABF until TRBL have responded – this is because they are the major assistance provider and along with the Regiment/Corps they will often fulfil the need so that the use of ABF funds is not required.

ABF have a close working partnership with the Army Chain of Command (CoC) and regularly brief Unit Welfare Officers (UWO’s) and other welfare areas of the Army and frequently work in partnership.

ABF are the equivalent of the Regimental charity as they are provided with funds by the Gurkha Welfare Trust (who concentrate more on providing support in Nepal).  This is why we go directly to The ABF for Gurkha cases but not for other cases.

Clients need to have completed both Phase 1 and Phase 2 basic training (this is often called ‘Special to Arms’ as Phase 1 is a mainly Infantry based course undertaken by all to learn general skills and Phase 2 is where they learn to be e.g. a tank driver, or a mechanic or a signaller etc). Once these are completed, they are ‘Capbadged’ i.e. sent out to their Unit (Regiment or Corps) at this stage they become eligible even if they’ve only been there for a day.

 The exception is those who are medically discharged due to injuries sustained during the Phase 1 or Phase 2 training prior to being ‘capbadged’. For such clients ABF MAY support but medical evidence will be required. In such cases, please call the ABF for initial advice prior to starting Casework as the client won’t have a capbadge and therefore no Regimental Benevolent Fund to turn to.

 Reserves require ‘1 years’ satisfactory service’ to receive support

If an ex-spouse or partner enters a new relationship/re-marries they are no longer eligible to apply for assistance. If they have dependent children of the eligible person then they could make an application – consideration in this situation would be on a case by case basis.

 ABF Do not support legal or medical costs except the latter in exceptional circumstances.

 Example given was a Vet who due to his service-related injury (not just injured whilst in service) had needed dental work most of which was covered by NHS but a smallish issue was outstanding.