Central Fund

Are you facing a financial challenge?

About

Our Central Fund is here to support you if you are facing financial difficulties.

The Fund can help you with the following costs:

Priority debts (rent, mortgage, council tax, energy bills)
Debt relief orders or bankruptcy fees
Rent deposits
Funeral costs
Household goods
Home repairs
Mobility aids
Disability adaptations
Selected medical treatment
Unforeseen emergencies

Unfortunately, RBF is unable to help with non-priority debts (i.e. credit cards, historical debts, unsecured loans, overdrafts) or care home fees.

Am I eligible?

The criteria to apply for the Central Fund is as follows:

You have at least one year’s service as a current railway worker, and a minimum of five year’s service for former and retired railway workers
You have less than £2,000 in capital if a single person, or less than £3,000 if a couple (including the value of any assets i.e. shares, second properties, land)

Spouses and widows of railway workers can also apply for support, and next of kin of railway workers may also apply for support towards funeral costs.

Please note that you can only apply for one Central Fund grant within a two year period.

How much will I receive?

The amount awarded for the Central Fund is calculated on a case by case basis. This will be discussed with your caseworker during the application process.

How do I apply?

It’s quick and easy to apply. Please click on the link below to apply online.

If you require an application form by post please contact our office on 0345 241 2885 or email support@railwaybenefitfund.org.uk

Along with the application form we will require the following supporting documentation:

Proof of railway employment such as a payslip, P60, pension letter, rail pass etc
Proof of income e.g. wage slip, benefit letters etc
One month’s bank statement from all accounts held by yourself and any spouse/partner
Information relevant to your needs such as quotes, proof of debts, medical evidence etc

It takes around 2 weeks for applications to be reviewed.

Apply Online

Further support

All applications are offered a check of entitlements including benefits, government support, as well as other charities that may assist along with referrals and signposting to other services that can help.

If you have any queries or require assistance with completing the form please contact us on 0345 241 2885 or email us.

Quick Links

About

Am I eligible?

How much will I receive?

How do I apply?

Further support

I’m finding it really helpful. I sometimes go a long time without anyone to talk to and it’s very hard. I’m 94 and meeting new people is difficult, so check in and chat in my own home with a lovely lady to talk to is fantastic. I still manage to get to town to run my errands, although at my age I don’t run! But the casual conversations I have with shop keepers are nothing like the calls, which are much more personal and involved.

Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the help and support this charity has given us, before this I felt so hopeless and worried about the future, it has been a really tough, stressful year but I now have some sense of positivity that things will get easier and that wouldn’t have happened without RBF’s support.

When I approached the RBF, I felt hopeless and that I had no chance of ever paying off all my debts. I sent in my application asking for support with my council tax and energy bills, and the charity provided me with a grant to finally pay off these debts. Since receiving this support, I feel so happy and relieved.