29.1.20

Cardiff Council's specialist veteran advice service has helped claim more than £¾ million in benefits and grants for customers so far this year.

The service is delivered in community hubs throughout the city and can help former and current Armed Forces personnel and their families with a wide range of matters includingemployment support, benefits, debt problems and housing.

From April to December 2019, the service supported more than 500 customers and helped many claim benefits or payments they weren't previously aware they were entitled to. During that time, customers were assisted to claim£467,949 of benefit payments as well as £293,197 of one-off payments.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne said: "Cardiff Council is committed to supporting former and serving personnel and their families and as signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have pledged to ensure that no-one is disadvantaged by serving their country.

"As awareness of our support grows, the service is helping more and more veterans and their families and the amount of money we have helped people claim is tremendous, which will no doubt make a real difference in their lives.

"In other instances, we've worked with charities to help a customer with mobility issues to obtain a mobility scooter to be more independent and no longer feel socially isolated, while another family were signposted to support after a serious traffic accident that enabled them to claim a significant amount of compensation.

"For the last two years in November, we have organised very successful Remembrance events with partners in Central Library Hub and in 2019, we extended the programme of events into several community hubs around the city.

"Our service is not just for veterans, we work with current personnel and their families too and I urge anyone in the city looking for support or guidance to get in touch to see how our friendly team can assist."

In addition to delivering the advice service in Central Library Hub, an outreach service regularly visits Grangetown Hub, The Powerhouse in Llanedeyrn, Llanrumney Hub, St Mellons Hub and Ely and Caerau Hub while visits to other hubs are available on request.

To find out more about the service, visithttps://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Armed-Forces-Covenant/Covenant-Support/Pages/default.aspxor call us on 029 2087 1000/07980953539or email veteransadvice@cardiff.gov.uk​