Archive Website of the UK government

Who is a veteran?

A veteran is someone who has served in the UK Armed Forces. The term also includes their widows/widowers and dependants. There is no minimum service requirement to be considered a veteran, nor do you have to have been on active service.

Payments from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Veteran entitlements can include pensions and other payments.

You may be entitled to any of the pensions or payments under the following schemes:

The War Pensions Scheme

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

This was introduced on 6 April 2023 for injuries and wounds sustained in Service on or after this date. It includes:

Call the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency helpline to claim your pension directly or get information on:

Telephone: 0800 169 2277 (free calls in the UK)

Telephone (minicom): 0800 169 3458

8.15 am to 5.15 pm on Monday to Thursday, 8.15 am to 4.30 pm on Friday.

• Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website Opens new window

• Contact details for the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Other financial support

If you're not entitled to a War Disablement Pension, tariff-based lump sum payment or Guaranteed Income Payment, you may be entitled to other help.

Ex-Service people and their dependants who require welfare assistance have access to the same benefits as all other UK citizens. Contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency to find out about other benefits to which you may be entitled.

• Contact details for the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Health care

The Veterans Agency may be able to help you with costs if:

• you're a war pensioner
• you need medical treatment or care because you were injured or disabled while serving in the Armed Forces

The War Pensioners' Welfare Service (WPWS) can give advice about health care. You can contact your local War Pensioners' Welfare Office through the Veterans Agency helpline.

The ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, 'Combat Stress', is a Services charity. They specialise in helping veterans suffering from psychological disability as a result of their service.

St Dunstan's helps ex-Service people who have significant loss of sight, whether as a result of service or otherwise.

• Contact details for the Veterans Agency

• Combat Stress Opens new window

• St Dunstan's Opens new window

Hospitals

As a veteran, you are entitled to priority treatment in NHS hospitals. If it's for an injury or illness for which you are receiving a War Disablement Pension.

Disability

The social services department of your local authority may be able to help with stair lifts, bathroom adaptations, or personal alarm systems. The Veterans Welfare Service can also help with this, and other welfare benefits.

For more information, contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency helpline.

• Contact details for the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Nursing homes

For information on ex-Services nursing, convalescent and respite care homes, you can contact The Royal British Legion. Telephone 08457 725 725, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

• Supported housing and care homes (disabled people section)

• Care homes on The Royal British Legion website Opens new window

Employment

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) provides a no-cost resettlement service for people leaving the Armed Forces. It provides job finding and other employment support services for two years after discharge.

The Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA) helps ex-Service people to find employment throughout their working life.

The Officers' Association is a charity dedicated to officers who have retired or are about to retire from the Armed Forces. It helps with finding employment and residential accommodation, and offers advice and financial assistance.

• Officers' Association Opens new window

• Career Transition Partnership Opens new window

• Regular Forces Employment Association Opens new window

Housing and homelessness

You can contact the following organisation for advice, support and assistance about housing and homelessness.

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – Forces Help (SSAFA Forces Help) offers assistance and information to veterans on housing and other welfare issues. Contact the SSAFA Forces Help Housing Advisory Service by telephone on 01722 436 400.

If you require information about ex-Service residential homes, contact The Royal British Legion by telephone on 08457 725 725.

• SSAFA Forces Help Opens new window

• Home and housing options (disabled people section)

Help from non-government organisations

Ex-Service organisations can also provide help and assistance in assessing your rights to a pension or benefits.

The Royal British Legion provides free help and advice for all ex-Service people and their dependants. They can help you apply for war pensions, War Widow's/Widower's Pensions and other allowances.

The Forces Pensions Society provides advice to help with individual pension problems.

• Royal British Legion Opens new window

• Forces Pensions Society Opens new window

More useful links

• Medical costs for war pensioners (money, tax and benefits section)

• War Disablement Pension (money, tax and benefits section)

• War Widow's and Widower's Pension (money, tax and benefits section)

Useful contacts

• Veterans contacts

• Retirement contacts

• Financial advice and support contacts

• Over 50s contacts