Road Transport Distress Fund Claim Form

Date: 31 October 2007

Road Transport Distress Fund Claim Form

Professional Drivers

• Involved in a traffic offence?
• Do you have money problems?

Usdaw's Road Transport Distress Fund is the answer.

Professional drivers spend a lot of time driving. That means that they are more likely than the average private motorist to fall foul of the law.

Usdaw's Road Transport Distress Fund helps to relieve hardship following a work-related traffic offence. It has a unique self-help scheme which is purely voluntary - and it costs only £5.00 a year, payable every October.

The fund is managed by Usdaw's Road Transport National Committee and payment is discretionary. Alcohol or drugs related offences are excluded.

To join the Fund please complete and return an application form.

Please ensure that you attach a copy of the Fixed Penalty Notice, together with a receipt showing that you have paid the relevant fine.

Send all documentation, together with this claim form, to

The Road Transport Section
Usdaw,
188 Wilmslow Road,
Manchester
M14 6LJ

Extract From Distress Fund Rules Clause

2.Objectives

The object of the Fund shall be to provide, in appropriate cases, for the relief of hardship suffered by any member of the Fund as a consequence of being ordered by a Court of Justice to pay a fine and/or costs in respect of any traffic offence committed arising out of and in the course of the member's employment.

4. Contributions

i) New and existing members of the Fund shall be required to instruct their bank or building society to pay their contributions to the Fund by Direct Debit. Applications to join the Fund, including a completed Direct Debit instruction form, must be sent to the Audit Department at Usdaw Central Office, Oakley, 188 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LJ.

ii) Membership of the Fund requires one Direct Debit payment of £5.00 upon joining and a further Direct Debit payment of £5.00 every October thereafter.

iii) Special provisions may be agreed by the Trustees of the Fund for companies which pay on behalf of their drivers.

iv) The responsibility for keeping payments up to date shall rest with the member.

v) Any member wishing to leave the Fund will not be entitled to a refund of any contributions made.

6. Benefit Entitlement

i) No claim for benefit by a member of the Fund, arising out of any circumstances or incident giving rise to a prosecution of that member, shall be entertained unless the member was:

a) At the time of the circumstances or incident a member of Usdaw and not more than six weeks in arrears with Usdaw contributions and,

b) At the time of the imposition of the penalty relating to such prosecution was a member of Usdaw and not more than six weeks in arrears with Usdaw contributions.

c) At the time of such circumstances or incident had a minimum of 13 weeks' membership of the Fund.

ii) Any member who, at the time of the imposition, was up to but no more than six weeks in arrears with his or her contributions will not be entitled to receive benefit until the amount of arrears has been cleared. Any member more than six weeks in arrears with his or her Usdaw contributions at the time of the circumstances or incident, or the imposition, will not be entitled to claim benefit as provided for within the Rules of the Fund.

iii) Claims for benefit shall be made within 26 weeks of the imposition and addressed to the Secretary of the Road Transport Distress Fund at Usdaw Central Office, Oakley, 188 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LJ.

iv) Payments of benefits from the Fund shall be on a discretionary basis and determined by a vetting committee who shall comprise the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Road Transport National Committee.

v) No member shall be entitled to a payment of benefit on more than three occasions in any period of 12 consecutive months.

Road Transport Distress Fund Claim Form was correct at date of publication October 2007.

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Road Transport Distress Fund Claim Form [ pdf ]

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Last Modified: Thursday, 15-May-2008 20:52:22 EST