The Benevolent Fund is a registered charity which was founded in 1944 to grant temporary assistance in cases of severe financial need to serving or retired subpostmasters, full-time Federation employees, and the widows, widowers or children of any of those persons in cases of severe illness, bereavement or other domestic distress.

The type of assistance which might be provided includes:

• help with the cost of nursing or residential home fees  where these exceed the State allowances.
• contributions towards holiday costs for the disabled  or convalescent.
• adapting privately owned vehicles for the carriage of  invalid passengers.
• assistance with removal expenses.
• installation of telephones for emergency use by the  elderly or infirm.
• provision of winter-weight bedding.

Moreover, the Board of Benevolence is empowered to relieve any exceptional cases which may be brought to its notice.

The Benevolent Fund also finances a Trauma Counselling Helpline to assist following a traumatic situation or incident in life, such as trauma reaction after an attack or raid.