Please find below answers to frequently asked questions about Police Children’s Fund. If you have a question and don’t find the answer here, please take a look around our website for further information or contact the office on tel. no. 01903 237256 / email info@policechildrensfund.org.
Police Officers/Donors
Answers
Q. I am a serving officer and my partner, who was not employed in a police capacity, has recently died. Are my children eligible for the Fund?
A. You can apply as your children are eligible for assistance subject to need being established.
Q. I am a recently medically retired officer with two children, one of whom is a university student. Can I make an application for both children?
A. Yes, both children are eligible for assistance subject to need being established.
Q. I am an officer who has been medically retired from the Met. I previously served with Hampshire. Are my children eligible for the Fund?
A. No. An officer needs to have been serving with one of our 22 contributing forces at the time of medical retirement for the children to be eligible. The Met or any other force will offer similar assistance in these circumstances.
Q. I have recently been medically retired from a contributing force but I am divorced from my partner with whom my children live. If need is established, who would receive the allowance/grants?
A. If need is established, the allowance/grant is paid to the parent/guardian with whom the children reside.
Q. I am a serving officer, how do I donate?
A. As a serving officer you can set up a regular donation through your payroll. Alternatively, you can visit our JustGiving page to either set up a one off donation or a regular donation.
Q. I am a serving officer, can I increase my monthly donation via payroll?
A. The payroll administration processes will not allow for different donations from individual officers so if you wanted to increase your monthly donation, the best way is to visit our JustGiving page to set up a regular donation.
Q. My partner was a serving officer with a contributing force but resigned to start a new career and has recently died. Are my children eligible for the Fund?
A. No. The officer needs to have been actively serving with a contributing force at the time of death.
Q. My partner was a special constable with a contributing force and has recently died. Are my children eligible for the Fund?
A. If the cause of death was on-duty then the children are eligible for the Fund subject to need being established.
Q. I am not a police officer but my partner who was a serving officer has recently died. Are my children eligible for the Fund?
A. Yes – if your children are in education they will be automatically registered to receive a weekly allowance. This will be reviewed every year when you will be required to complete an application form detailing income and expenditure.
Q. Is there a cut off point where a potential beneficiary can no longer apply?
A. No – If the deceased or medically retired officer served within one of our 22 contributing forces there is no cut-off point for applying but if need is established and a weekly grant awarded, this could be backdated up to 6 months at the trustees’ discretion.
Q. How are applications assessed?
A. Applications are initially assessed based upon the circumstances at time of application. Applicants are required to complete a financial form detailing income, expenditure and level of savings. This is then considered by the trustees at their quarterly meetings. More information can be found here.
Q. What age children are eligible to apply to the Fund?
A. The eligible children can be aged from birth up to 18 years. Students who go on to university are eligible to apply for higher education assistance for the duration of one degree, including a masters up to the age of 25.
Q. Do you provide assistance with driving lessons?
A. If the child is a beneficiary in receipt of a weekly allowance then they are eligible to apply for a grant towards driving lessons.
Q. Do you provide grants for school trips?
A. If the children are in receipt of a weekly allowance they are eligible to apply for assistance towards school trips.
Q. What is the weekly allowance/grant for? Is it means tested?
A. If a weekly allowance is provided, this is to be used for educational expenditure for the children to help with school transport, school uniform, books, study equipment, sports kit etc.
An application form detailing household income and expenditure is to be submitted each year at the Annual Review.
Q. Do you offer counselling services?
A. We do not provide counselling services but every beneficiary registered on the Fund is eligible to apply for a grant towards the costs of private counselling and other mental health support.