Heroes Return 2 Second World War veterans can still benefit from a Lottery-funded scheme, enabling them to revisit the places where they served their country THE Big Lottery Fund (BIG) pledged to fund World War 2 veterans resident in the UK and Republic of Ireland to make commemorative trips to mark anniversaries throughout 2009 and 2010. Funding is also available for a carer or spouse and widows and widowers of veterans can also apply.
Grants have been provided through the Heroes Return 2 programme to nearly five thousand veterans. The Heroes Return 2 programme will fund trips to Second World War theatres of war around the globe, such as Arnhem, Burma, Libya and the Far East. Funding is not means-tested and applicants can apply for a fixed amount grant of between £150 and £5,500 depending on the number of people partaking and the chosen destination.
Veterans must have travelled by 31 December 2010, although claims can be made retrospectively until 31 January 2011.
Contacts To find out more about the programme, call the Heroes Return 2 Helpline on 0845 00 00 121 or visit the Big Lottery Fund website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn
or email general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Inheritance Tax
Did you know that some veterans may be eligible for inheritance tax exemption if they die as a result of injuries or disease received or aggravated during military service . . . peace time or anti-terrorist operations), a complete exemption from inheritance tax can be granted on their estate under the provisions of s154 of the Inheritance Tax Act. Likewise, while the total exemption is not transferrable to a spouse’s estate, the granting of an exemption on the veteran’s estate will double the personal tax threshold (to £650,000) used to assess any Inheritance Tax
Contacts When someone dies, Inheritance Tax must normally be paid on their estate (everything they owned at the time of death), if their estate is worth more that a certain amount (currently £325,000). The main exemption is if they leave their total estate to their spouse. HOWEVER, if a serving or former member of the Armed Forces dies from (or death can be shown to have been hastened by) an injury sustained or disease contracted on active service against the enemy or other service of a warlike nature (such as operations against hostile forces in Issue 17 September 2010
Anyone wishing to apply for an exemption under s154, or requiring further information, should contact Service Personnel and Veterans Agency Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (Deceased Estates) Room G35 Innsworth House Imjin Barracks Gloucester GL3 1HW Or telephone Wendy Gower or Linda Blackwell on 01452 712612 Ext 5680 or 8174
liability on the spouses estate when they die. Each application for an exemption is considered on its merits after the death of the veteran concerned and requires the MOD to be given access to the veteran’s full medical records. Neither war time service in the armed forces or receipt of a war pension, is a guarantee that an exemption will be granted.
Be the Boss In the last issue, Veterans WORLD published details on the new £5 million Government scheme administered by the Royal British Legion – Be the Boss. The scheme will provide ex-Service personnel with loans and grants to help with the costs of starting their own business. FOR further information on the scheme call the free Helpline on 0800 678 5787, email betheboss@civvystreet.org or visit www.civvystreet.org and click onto Be the Boss
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