Background briefing on support for UK Veterans

Coronavirus

Plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, VE Day, have been scaled back and postponed because of the spread of coronavirus.

Veterans UK, the Government website, maintains an updated page on changes to Veterans UK services. 

The Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant was introduced in 2011 and is a statement of the moral obligation which exists between the nation, the Government and the Armed Forces in return for the sacrifices they make. Its core principles were enshrined in law in the Armed Forces Act 2011, although the Covenant does not create legally enforceable rights for service or former service personnel.

It is the Armed Forces Covenant which provides the central focus of current Government policy towards veterans. The Ministry of Defence has estimated that there were 2.23 million UK armed forces veterans living in households across Great Britain in 2019. The Covenant outlines two core principles which influence the support and policies directed towards the veteran community:

• No disadvantage: no current or former member of the armed forces, or their families, should be at a disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
• Special consideration: special consideration is appropriate in some cases, particularly for those who have been injured or bereaved.

Office for Veteran’s Affairs

In July 2019, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson created an Office for Veterans’s Affairs. Located in the Cabinet Office, the Office was led by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Oliver Dowden, and the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Johnny Mercer. Announcing its creation, the Government stated its role was to “work with departments to coordinate and drive government policy on veterans’ welfare, spanning mental and physical health, education and employment.” The Chancellor announced £5 million funding for the Office in September 2019. 

Support for service leavers

Service leavers are allocated graduated resettlement time to enable them to participate in briefings or training designed to assist them in leaving the services. Each service provides information and advice on resettlement and transitioning to civilian life. The Career Transition Partnership provides service leavers with specific career support through a number of different programmes, eligibility of which is largely determined by length of service.

Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bil 2019-20 

The Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21 on 18 March 2020. The Bill will establish a statutory presumption against prosecution of current or former personnel for alleged offences committed on overseas military operations more than five years ago, and which have been the subject of a previous investigation. The date for second reading has not yet been announced.

Housing

Service leavers and veterans may attract additional preference in certain circumstances when applying for social housing.  In addition, there is a MoD referral scheme to support recent veterans in accessing housing association properties. The increased risk of experiencing street homelessness is also recognised. In England, “vulnerable former members of the armed forces” who are homeless and in Wales “a person who has served….who has been homeless” are identified as priority need categories for assistance with housing. In Scotland there is a duty to find permanent accommodation for all unintentionally homeless applicants.

Healthcare

There is also specific support for the healthcare provided to veterans. The March 2015 Budget included an announcement for £8.4 million over the next five years to expand the services providing mental health support for veterans in England. The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health programme, alongside the charity Combat Stress, both provide mental health support and services for veterans. For physical health problems, the Veterans Medical Funds programme support those with hearing loss and serious physical injury. In addition there is support and specialist centres across the UK to provide prosthetic and rehabilitation services. Money from LIBOR fines provides funding for more local or specific health projects.

Pension and compensation schemes

The occupational pension scheme for members of the armed forces is the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Separate to this are schemes to make payments to current and former service personnel and their families in respect of ill health, injury or death caused by service. In the case of incidents before 6 April 2005, payments are made through the War Pensions Scheme. For incidents after that date, there is the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). Surviving partners and dependent children may be eligible for survivors’ benefits from the AFPS. In the case of deaths attributable to service, compensation payments may be available from the War Pension Scheme (for deaths attributable to service before 6 April 2005) or AFCS (for deaths attributable to service after that date).

Employment and benefits

There are no Government welfare-to-work schemes specifically for armed forces veterans, nor are there (with the exception of the Armed Forces Independence Payment) any social security benefits specifically for veterans, although there are some “easements” for veterans and their family members. Each Jobcentre Plus district has an “Armed Forces Champion”, whilst there is exemption from the household benefit cap where a member of family is receiving a guaranteed income payment through AFCS or a War Pensions Scheme payment.

Medals, memorials, services and concessions

This paper also provides information on the medals and memorials for veterans of the armed forces and links to services to support the veteran community and concessions for which they may be entitled, as well as statistics on the veteran community.