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NFF News, Additional Needs, Research

 

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity announced the release of a new survey report written by the FANDF committee. This powerful report shares the voices of this sometimes-overlooked Additional Needs and Disability community within the Armed Forces. This is the first time that this demographic has shared these insights and their experiences in an official capacity with the Ministry of Defence.

 

Under the MOD’s Defence and Inclusion (D&I) strategy, efforts are being made to shine a light into every corner of the Forces community. In order to better support these families, their opinions and personal experiences have been collated and their own on-the-ground-recommendations are being shared.

 

Key report findings:

  • Lack of a ‘normal’ family routine caused by military lifestyle leaves those families with additional needs and disabilities struggling to climb waiting lists and access specialist services required
  • Children’s education can suffer as stretched local authorities subconsciously under-resource support for children who will ‘move on’ shortly. The report finds ongoing issues with obtaining an educational diagnosis and support for children, according to 29% of respondents surveyed
  • Access to continuity of health care is a big concern, with health and educational records taking time to be transferred and those families claiming access to support having to start again from scratch every time they move
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder is the most common additional need identified by 48% of respondents, and specialist support for military families dealing with this is necessary

 

Click here to read the report in full. 

 

Posted on: 27th January, 2020
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Additional Needs

It’s important to register an additional need and/ or disability with the Chain of Command, so that they are aware that your family may require extra support sometimes. There are a number of organisations that can assist you or offer you support such as the MOD, Government, your Local Authority (LA), NHS and specific charities.

Armed Forces Support

It is mandatory to register your family member’s additional need and/or disability with the chain of command to ensure that extra support required by your family is formally recognised.

SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years

Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

Additional needs Adaptions (ANA) to Service Family Accommodation (SFA)
Additional needs Adaptions (ANA) to Service Family Accommodation (SFA)

If you or your family member has a disability which means that your SFA needs additional needs adaptions:

  • Contact Amey Occupancy Service Team at the Helpdesk on 0800 707 6000 or email occupancyservices@ameydefenceservices.co.uk.
  • You will need to submit medical evidence and/or an Occupational Therapy report depending on the adaptations required. Therefore you are advised to ask the Occupancy Services Team for a specific point of contact and email address to send your confidential medical information to.
  • If you require a larger SFA to allow for the required adaptations to be done you will need to complete an e1132 form, which you can find here.
  • Joint Service Publication (JSP) Vol 1, Part 1, Section 3 also contains information about the process for applying for SFA if you have additional needs. You can find the information here.
Government Support
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64. Find our more here.

Allowances

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

  • is under 16;
  • has difficulties walking or needs more looking after than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a disability.

Please find out more here.

 

Child Disability Payment – Scotland

If you live in Scotland, you may be eligible to claim the Child Disability Payment, which provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have. You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a disabled child under 16 and their disability can be mental or physical. Social Security Scotland will pay Child Disability Payment until the child is 18.

 

More information can be found here.

 

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. More information can be found here.

 

Claiming Benefits Overseas

If you are living overseas as part of a Service family, The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have stated:

“When Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was introduced in April 2013 DWP also took the opportunity to amend residence and presence tests in Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance (AA) and Carer’s Allowance (CA). For DLA and CA, like PIP, they made an exception for Serving members of Her Majesty’s Forces and members of their families, so that they should be classed as satisfying the habitual residence when stationed abroad.”

This means that you are able to continue claiming your benefit as if you were still living within the UK or apply for a new benefit as if you were living in the UK.

 

Carer’s Allowance

If you are 16 and over and care for someone for at least 35 hours a week you may be eligible to claim carer’s allowance. Please find out more here.

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is an alternative to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It is designed to provide financial support to Service personnel and Veterans who are seriously injured as a result of service to cover the extra costs they may have as a result of their injury. If you are eligible you will not be required to have an additional medical assessment and you will not be required to undergo regular re-assessments to maintain eligibility. AFIP applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and is not taxable or means tested. Visit their website here.

SSAFA
Guide

The challenges of military life are greater when you or a member of your family has a disability or an additional need. There are many questions to consider: When will we move? Will the housing be suitable? Will the local school be able to offer adequate support? How far are the local hospitals? What is transport like? Will the same treatment, medication or services be available?

This guide intends to offer families with challenging issues a step towards finding some answers to these questions. It is by no means comprehensive, but aims to signpost some of the services and resources available, to help find the appropriate support and make life easier. Please click here.

Support groups

Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF)

The Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) support group was set up over 20 years ago for Service families who have a child or dependant who has additional needs or a disability, or if they are disabled themselves. It is a forum for families to raise issues of importance with the MOD and welfare providers about the factors unique to Service life and a way of ensuring that both children and adults with additional needs and/or disability have access to the best support available. FANDF is facilitated by SSAFA. To find out more, please click here. Click here to view their list of resources and/or subscribe to their newsletter.

Short breaks
SSAFA Short Breaks

These adventures give children a break away from home, where they can gain independence, make friends and have fun. The breaks also give family left at home a rest, to spend time together and recharge their batteries. For full details click here.

Posted on: 18th May, 2016
Updated on: 12th January, 2022
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