Oddfellows membership terms and conditions

If you have any questions about membership and entitlements, please contact us.

For all membership types, please note:

• Members must be resident in the British Isles when they first join (excluding Archive membership).
• The package of member benefits is subject to periodic review and may change over time.
• Oddfellows benefits are non-contractual and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
• Terms and conditions apply to all benefits provided by third parties. Please check each third-party benefit for full details.

Switching membership packages – this applies to Standard membership and membership with Extra Benefits:

• You can switch to the other membership package after a minimum of three consecutive years on your current package.
• If you decide to switch, you must stay on your new package for at least three consecutive years before you can switch back.

Standard membership

Accidental Death Benefit – available from day one
Should a member die as a result of accidental death within their country of domicile (eg the UK), the Oddfellows offers £1,000 support; or £2,500 support if it occurs outside the country of domicile. Applications must include an original copy of the death certificate which states ‘Accidental Death’ as the cause of death and be submitted to the Branch Secretary within three months of the date of death.

Legal Aid Scheme – available from day one
Legal assistance for personal injury, including medical negligence, and employment disputes – the incident must have taken place after the date of joining. Family members can also apply for help from the scheme for personal injury and medical negligence cases, but not for employment matters. The case must have reasonable prospects of success and costs must be proportionate.

For employment matters, the Society will fund a maximum of £20,000 in legal costs (before any recovery of costs from the member). The Society may recover up to one third of any compensation awarded towards the legal costs, if your case is successful. View the full list of terms and conditions related to employment cases. For personal injury and medical negligence cases, there may be some deduction from any compensation awarded towards legal and insurance costs, which will be advised by the solicitor.

Orphan Gift Fund – available from day one
For children who lose one or both parents; the child or one of the parents must be a member. Financial support is available until the end of full time education up to the completion of a university degree. Applications are made through a Branch Secretary who will need to visit their home to help complete the claim form and to determine if extra help or support is required.

Emergency Financial Aid (Household) – available from day one
Up to £750 cash grant in the event of a serious household emergency such as fire or flood. Grants must be applied for through your Branch Secretary. Proof may be required that the event has occurred (which may require a visit by the Branch Secretary).

Benevolence Grant – available from day one
The total value of a Benevolence Grant (also referred to as a Distress Grant) is decided on a case-by-case basis. The grant is a cash donation and the recipient will not be required to repay it. The issue for which you need help must not have started prior to becoming a member.

Convalescence and carer support (Home, Carer's Respite & Care Benefit) – available from year three of membership
This is a discretionary benefit available after two years of membership (once the third year’s membership fee has been paid), and every two years from then on. The benefit is for members whose lives have been severely affected by an illness, operation, accident or trauma who would benefit from support to help their recovery. They can apply for a stay of up to two weeks in a convalescence facility agreed by the Society or up to 30 hours of help at home or other services or equipment to help recovery. There may be an excess payable at some convalescence facilities which will be highlighted prior to the member’s stay. Alternatively members who are full time carers for someone who is ill or disabled can apply for a Carer’s Respite break. Application forms can be obtained from Branch Secretaries and should be submitted directly to the Oddfellows Care Department for assessment and processing. Applications for convalescence support include a questionnaire to be completed by a relevant medical professional to identify the need for a break as well as any additional requirements for the member’s stay. 

Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line – available from day one
General advice service provided to members by Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice is an independent advice agency and are solely responsible for all advice they provide. If you have any queries about the advice you have received or wish to make a complaint then you should contact Citizens Advice directly. Citizens Advice operate a formal complaints process.

Educational Awards – available from year five of membership
These non-refundable educational and training bursaries are for members undertaking their first, first degree course or apprenticeship and are allocated on a competition basis. Members must apply in writing and applications are judged on a number of criteria. Details on how to apply are available from the member's Branch Secretary. Young Oddfellows membership is taken into consideration for length of membership.

Membership with Extra Benefits

Accidental Death Benefit – available from day one
Should a member die as a result of accidental death within their country of domicile (eg the UK), the Oddfellows offers £1,000 support; or £2,500 support if it occurs outside the country of domicile. Applications must include an original copy of the death certificate which states ‘Accidental Death’ as the cause of death and be submitted to the Branch Secretary within three months of the date of death.

Legal Aid Scheme – available from day one
Legal assistance for personal injury, including medical negligence, and employment disputes – the incident must have taken place after the date of joining. Family members can also apply for help from the scheme for personal injury and medical negligence cases, but not for employment matters. The case must have reasonable prospects of success and costs must be proportionate.

For employment matters, the Society will fund a maximum of £20,000 in legal costs (before any recovery of costs from the member). The Society may recover up to one third of any compensation awarded towards the legal costs, if your case is successful. View the full list of terms and conditions related to employment cases. For personal injury and medical negligence cases, there may be some deduction from any compensation awarded towards legal and insurance costs, which will be advised by the solicitor.

Orphan Gift Fund – available from day one
For children who lose one or both parents; the child or one of the parents must be a member. Financial support is available until the end of full time education up to the completion of a university degree. Applications are made through a Branch Secretary who will need to visit their home to help complete the claim form and to determine if extra help or support is required.

Emergency Financial Aid (Household) – available from day one
Up to £750 cash grant in the event of a serious household emergency such as fire or flood. Grants must be applied for through your Branch Secretary. Proof may be required that the event has occurred (which may require a visit by the Branch Secretary).

Benevolence Grant – available from day one
The total value of a Benevolence Grant (also referred to as a Distress Grant) is decided on a case-by-case basis. The grant is a cash donation and the recipient will not be required to repay it. The issue for which you need help must not have started prior to becoming a member.

Dental Care Benefit – available every year from year two of membership
£30 towards checkups and treatment. Claims must include an original receipt. You cannot claim for payments to a dental payment plan or any cost already covered by a dental insurance policy. Any claims must be made within 12 months of the date of treatment, or the date of the receipt for treatment – whichever is earlier.

Optical Care Benefit – available every other membership year from year two of membership
£30 towards sight tests, glasses or contact lenses. Claims must include an original receipt. Any claims must be made within 12 months of the date of treatment, or the date of the receipt for treatment – whichever is earlier.

Convalescence and carer support (Home, Carer's Respite & Care Benefit) – available from year three of membership
This is a discretionary benefit available after two years of membership (once the third year’s membership fee has been paid), and every two years from then on. The benefit is for members whose lives have been severely affected by an illness, operation, accident or trauma who would benefit from support to help their recovery. They can apply for a stay of up to two weeks in a convalescence facility agreed by the Society or up to 30 hours of help at home or other services or equipment to help recovery. There may be an excess payable at some convalescence facilities which will be highlighted prior to the member’s stay. Alternatively members who are full time carers for someone who is ill or disabled can apply for a Carer’s Respite break. Application forms can be obtained from Branch Secretaries and should be submitted directly to the Oddfellows Care Department for assessment and processing. Applications for convalescence support include a questionnaire to be completed by a relevant medical professional to identify the need for a break as well as any additional requirements for the member’s stay. 

Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line – available from day one
General advice service provided to members by Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice is an independent advice agency and are solely responsible for all advice they provide. If you have any queries about the advice you have received or wish to make a complaint then you should contact Citizens Advice directly. Citizens Advice operate a formal complaints process.

Educational Awards – available from year five of membership
These non-refundable educational and training bursaries are for members undertaking their first, first degree course or apprenticeship and are allocated on a competition basis. Members must apply in writing and applications are judged on a number of criteria. Details on how to apply are available from the member's Branch Secretary. Young Oddfellows membership is taken into consideration for length of membership.

Young Oddfellows membership

Savings on Adult Membership
Savings depend on the length of Young Oddfellows membership. The child/young person must have remained a member continuously up until the age of 18.

Annual £5 gift voucher – available from day one
The child/young person will receive a gift voucher with a value of £5 during the month of November or December. The type of voucher varies from Branch to Branch.

Orphan Gift Fund – available from day one
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above.

Emergency Financial Aid (Household) – available from day one
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above. The child must be registered as living at the affected property.

Benevolence Grant – available from day one
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above.

Accidental Death Benefit – available from day one
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above.

Third-party member offers – available from day one
Please check third-party terms and conditions and age restrictions before redeeming.

Legal Aid Scheme – available from day one
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above, however parental/guardian consent may be needed where required by law or by third-party providers.

Branch Welfare Support - available from day one
A consenting parent/guardian must be present in order to receive support from a Branch Welfare Visitor.

Convalescence, Care and Carer's Respite support – available from year three of membership
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above, however parental/guardian consent may be needed where required by law or by third-party providers.

Educational Awards – available from year five of membership
As per Standard Membership T&Cs above.

Archive membership

Usage
The archive is for personal, academic or non-commercial use.

Referencing
If using any material from the archives, the material's source, which is the Oddfellows (www.oddfellows.co.uk), must be referenced.

Commercial use
If the intention is to share or reproduce any of the content from the archive for commercial purposes, contact us first for permissions.