A veteran is anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces at any time (including National Servicemen, Regulars and Reserves). If you are a veteran, there is extra help and support available to you, both during resettlement and after you leave.
As well as the three sources of information about this given below, the Service Community section of the Ministry of Defence website has more information on many aspects of life in, alongside and after the Armed Forces.
Veterans-UK website
The Veterans-UK website is your one-stop shop to find out about the help available to you. It is run by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (which is an agency of the Ministry of Defence), and includes information on:
- The War Pension and Armed Forces Pensions schemes
- How to access your Service records
- Compensation
- Who can apply for a veterans lapel badge
- Medals
- Welfare support, including the Veterans Welfare Service
- Advice on veterans services
- Links to the ex-Service charities and organisations in your area.
Veterans helpline
You can also find out about all these services by calling the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency’s free helpline on 0800 169 2277.
The Service Personnel Command Paper
If you are a serving in the Armed Forces, belong to a Service family, or are a veteran, you are entitled to extra support and help as part of the Nation’s Commitment.
What is the Nation’s Commitment?
Service Personnel make a commitment to the nation by serving in the Forces. To repay this commitment, the Government is taking steps to make sure that life for all members of the Armed Forces community is as uncomplicated as possible.
This means all Government departments working together to:
- show our commitment to the Armed Forces, and our thanks for your service
- remove problems you might face as a result of being required to move around the UK or the world (for instance, difficulties in getting a house or finding a doctor)
- provide better support if you have been wounded while in Service.
What the Government is doing to make this happen is laid out in a report called the Service Personnel Command Paper. You can download the full Service Personnel Command Paper, and find out more about what you are entitled to as a Service veteran or a war widow or widower, at www.mod.uk/spcp.