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FEATURE
RAILSTAFF NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
REPORT BY MATT ATKINS
RBF: A HELPING HAND THROUGH UNUSUAL TIMES RAILSTAFF SPOKE TO RAILWAY BENEFIT FUND'S RYAN MORGAN TO DISCUSS THE ONGOING IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND THE PRESSURES OF THE FESTIVE SEASON.
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round one in every ten working people struggles financially and 15% of households are currently under financial stress. If these numbers sound bad enough, remember they’ve been kept in check by low interest rates which have now begun to rise. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit rail workers hard and, with Christmas racing towards us, greater numbers will feel the pinch. Thankfully, the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) is committed to supporting current, retired, and former railway employees in financial distress.
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Formed in 1858, the charity offers practical help and wide-ranging advice, as well as financial grants to help those facing hardship. Their grants are non-repayable and can help towards a range of everyday expenses including rent, mortgage arrears, energy bills, and more. The RBF adopts a holistic system of support and all applicants are offered a check of their benefit entitlements and government support, along with referrals and signposting to other services that can help. Some of these services are funded through the RBF and others are provided externally. In the past two years, RBF has been busier than ever and that situation that looks set to continue for some time. RBF'S Services Manager, Ryan Morgan, has been with the organisation since 2019. He responds to
requests for help and advice and handles applications for financial support. “We receive on average around 10 phone calls every day that can cover any issue whatsoever,” he says. “The only thing we don’t help with are nonpriority debts like credit cards and care home costs, but for anything else we’ll talk callers through their options and provide whatever support we can.”
OUT OF THE BLUE When Covid-19 came crashing into our lives, the national lockdown decimated jobs and made many people prisoners in their own homes. Whether you lived alone or with others, the experience was extreme and, while it once looked like the end was in sight, the uncertainty of the Omicron variant means further lockdowns can’t be ruled out. Throughout the pandemic, RBF has supported rail staff who struggled with their finances and well-being. While the Covid outbreak has tested the whole nation, rail workers had a particularly rough ride, often placing their health at risk in public-facing roles, all while working reduced hours. “Staff in the rail industry have felt the impact of Covid-19 hard,” says Ryan. “The majority weren’t furloughed, but they did lose a lot of their overtime income.” The charity saw a huge increase in demand for its services as the Covid outbreak gained steam. It saw a 60% increase in requests for financial assistance and Ryan’s team dealt with an unprecedented volume of cases. As railway workers struggled to cover the basic costs of living, entire households faced extremely difficult financial situations, and this was further aggravated by the demands that home-schooling placed on families. Again, RBF stepped up to offer its support. “Back in January and February 2021 we had a limited time fund,” Ryan says. “It was
