Should War Veterans Be Given Special Services?

The Veterans team

The Veterans team within Pensions Compensation and Veterans (PCV) is responsible for the policy on a range of veteran problems. The main areas the team deals with are legacy health, recognition, celebration, transition to civilian life and liaising with the voluntary and community sector, devolved administrations and local regime.

Legacy health

The Veterans squad addresses wellness concerns of the following groups of veterans who believe their sick wellness to be a effect of their service:

veterans of the UK Atmospheric Nuclear Testing programme of the 1950s to 1960s
veterans of the Porton Down volunteer testing programme of the 1950 to 1970s
veterans of the 1990 to 1991 Gulf conflict
veterans of the most recent operations in Iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Functioning Herrick)

The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health programme

The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health programme (VRMHP) provides assessment and handling advice for veterans (who take deployed since 1982) and reserves who take been deployed overseas since ane Jan 2003 as a reservist, and believe that their deployment may accept afflicted their mental health.

All veterans referred to the VRMHP volition receive a full psychiatric assessment completed past a consultant psychiatrist; this assessment report is then sent on completion to the veteran's GP and if involved, the local mental wellness service, with advice on further treatment and intendance. Reserves whose condition is found to be operationally related and of a nature that can exist treated within the resources of the Defence Medical Service (DMS) tin can access treatment in a Modernistic U.k. Department of Community Mental Wellness (DCMH) and volition exist offered out-patient treatment at a DCMH closest to where they alive.

Referrals for reservists and veterans should exist directed to DCMH Colchester:

Veterans and Reserve Mental Wellness programme
DCMH Colchester
Merville Barracks
Read Hall House
COLCHESTER
Essex
CO2 7UT

Tel: 0800 0326258

E-mail: dphce-dcmhcol-vrmhp@modernistic.uk

Purpose of the VRMHP

The VRMHP provides assessment and treatment advice for veterans (who have deployed since 1982) and reserves who take been deployed overseas since 1 January 2003 every bit a reservist, and believe that their deployment may have affected their mental health. Reserves whose condition is found to be operationally related tin access treatment in a MOD UK Department of Community Mental Health.

Patient referrals to the VRMHP

Referrals to the VRMHP should exist made past the individual's GP, self referrals will simply exist accepted for this service every bit an exception. All referrals should be made to the VRMHP at the higher up address, contact number or east-mail. Mental healthcare is a multi-agency delivery effort and the MOD and Uk Department of Health are working with the NHS and service charities to back up Veterans and Reservists.

Doctors are encouraged to refer any patients who are concerned that their mental wellness may have suffered every bit a result of their military service and who fulfil the criteria.

We recommend visiting your GP to discuss your concerns in the first instance.

Further information

Full general practitioners or veterans requiring farther data near the service provided tin contact the VRMHP on freephone: 0800 0326258.

The VRMHP does not provide an urgent mental health assessment service. If you crave urgent support, y'all should seek communication from your local GP or mental health team in the first instance.

Travel costs

The Ministry of Defense force is able to assist with travel costs for those attending the VRMHP from inside the UK, but veterans should always confirm travel arrangements with the VRMHP prior to making their journeying. Since changes on 1 April 2016, in almost instances, eligible veterans and reserves will be referred to the most local local Defence Community Mental Health (DCMH) to where they alive.

Recognition

The Veterans team works to ensure that former service in the armed forces is recognised, appreciated and valued. It does this by formulating, advising and ensuring the delivery of policy for initiatives such every bit:

Armed services Twenty-four hour period
HM Armed services' veterans badge & United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland merchant seafarers lapel bluecoat
Veterans' challenge fund

Transition

The Veterans team deals with transition issues which can affect a small minority of service personnel when they leave the armed forces. These include:

veterans in the criminal justice system
homelessness among the veterans community

Voluntary and community sector

The Veterans team's principal priorities include:

communicating and consulting with ex-service organisations on all issues affecting veterans.
working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector to deliver programmes which address the needs of veterans.

Celebration

The Veterans team deals with the Modernistic'south policy on celebration. This includes:

graves
memorials

Legacy wellness

Information most legacy health issues for armed forces veterans and veterans of the Porton Down testing programme and nuclear testing programme:

Gulf Conflict 1990 to 1991

Information on illnesses relating to veterans of the Gulf War including:

Britain position on 'Gulf War syndrome' The medical asssesment
plan medical statistics
gulf state of war health inquiry

Porton Down Volunteer testing programme 1950 to 1970s

Historical information on the Porton Downwards site and the tests conducted there, including:

Medical Research Quango Mutual Common cold Enquiry Unit of measurement
historical survey of the Porton Down service volunteer programme 1939 to 1989
Porton Downwardly helpline

UK atmospheric nuclear testing programme 1950s to 1960s

Between 1952 and 1963 UK personnel were involved in a series of nuclear weapons tests in Commonwealth of australia and and islands in the Pacific.

Republic of iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Operation Herrick)

In 2003 the MOD commissioned the Rex's Centre for Military Health Enquiry to behave a study on the wellness and wellbeing of United kingdom military machine personnel.

Recognition

The veterans team is responsible for ensuring that former service in the war machine is recognised, appreciated and valued by both the government and general public. Information technology does this past formulating, developing, evaluating and reviewing policy taking business relationship of financial and presentational aspects.

Raising sensation

The Veterans team is responsible for raising awareness of the role of veterans and their contribution to society through initiatives such as Armed Forces Day, and the provision of HM Armed Forces and United kingdom Merchant Seafarers Veterans lapel badges.

Heroes Return 2

The Large Lottery Fund is delivering the Heroes Return 2 programme. World War 2 veterans from the Britain, Aqueduct Islands and Commonwealth of Republic of ireland can apply for travel and adaptation costs to visit the places where they saw active service. They can also receive funding to have office in an official commemorations in the UK.

The scheme was scheduled to close on 31 December 2012.

Transition

Information nearly some of the issues which may affect servicemen and women who are due to leave and veterans who have left the armed forces, including homelessness and support for veterans in the criminal justice system.

Support following discharge

A smooth transition to civilian life is almost ensuring ex-service personnel have the support they demand once they have been discharged from the military machine.

The vast majority of the 20,000 servicemen and women leaving the armed forces each year make the transition from service to civilian life without significant difficulties. However, there are some who do need additional support. The current focus is on homeless veterans and veterans in the criminal justice system.

Homeless veterans

The Modernistic supports a co-ordinated approach to meet the needs of ex-service personnel, working with policy leads from beyond government to ensure that those ex-service personnel who require back up in securing accommodation receive advisable assist. The Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have principal responsibility for homelessness policy.

Research

The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Concatenation) provide data on the number of veterans seen rough sleeping in London.

The latest Concatenation survey (funded by DCLG) estimated that iii% of those found rough sleeping in London, from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 had previously served in HM military. The number of veterans who are 'statutory' homeless is not available.

Supported housing

The Modernistic has supported the establishment of 2 supported housing schemes for ex-service personnel - Mike Jackson Business firm in Aldershot, which opened in 2008 and The Beacon at Catterick, which opened to residents in September 2011. The focus is on helping individuals in service to ensure the chance of condign homeless is minimised through the provision of schemes which offer affordable housing solutions.

Early on service leavers

Early service leavers have been identified as a group especially at hazard of facing homelessness. This group receive advisable assistance, all the same, it must exist recognised that those who leave early tend to be vulnerable individuals from the outset, rather than become vulnerable every bit a issue of their short career in the war machine.

Veterans in the Criminal Justice Arrangement

Veterans in prison

The Modern and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) have been working to provide up to date and authoritative data on the number of veterans in prison in England and Wales. The Modernistic's Defence force Statistics have estimated that, as at Nov 2009, regular ex-service personnel represented 3.5% of offenders in prison.

Defense force Statistics accept also determined that ex-service personnel in prison are predominantly male, British nationals, ex-regular army other ranks. The time between belch from the armed forces and the start of their electric current prison sentence ranged from 0 to 41 years. Withal, Defence Statistics estimated that for males anile xviii to 54, the proportion of ex-service personnel in prison was 30% less than the proportion of the general population in the same age grouping.

Veterans on probation

Defence force Statistics has besides adamant that, as at 30 September 2009, 3.4% of those supervised by Probation Trusts in England and Wales had previously served as regulars in the Britain war machine.

Defence force Statistics also establish this grouping to be predominately male person, ex-army other rank, with 50% being aged 35 years and over. The time between discharge from the military and the start of their current supervision tape varied from 0 to 47 years, with 49% having received their supervision record within 10 years of leaving and just vi% within a yr of leaving.

Information on previous cases of supervision records for these individuals was not available. However, Defence Statistics estimated that overall, a male member of the general population aged 18 to 54 was 12% more probable to have a probation supervision record than a one-time member of the armed forces.

Defense force Statistics reports

Visit Statistics at MOD

Ex-service offenders working group

Status

The Ex-Service Offenders Working Group (ESOWG) is a not-executive group with a articulate reporting chain within the MOD and the MOJ who each report to their respective Ministers. This ensures that the working grouping remains core business organisation.

Membership

MOJ: National Offender Management Service (Chair)
Modern
The Royal British Legion
Her Majesty's Prison Dartmoor
Gainsay Stress
SSAFA Forces Help
Nacro
Veterans United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland Veterans Welfare Service
Action for Prisoner's Families
Liaison Officer Scottish Prison Service
Liaison Officer Northern Ireland Prison Service
Centre for Mental Wellness

Aim

The working group aims to ensure that the ex-service prison and probation offender population, their families and the resettlement services, are fully informed of the forms and levels of support and help available from Veterans United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and the voluntary and community sector.

This back up and assistance applies during imprisonment besides as pre and postal service discharge. This piece of work is designed to contribute to wider government policy for reducing the chance of reoffending by those offenders either in custody or serving customs sentences, and ensure a common and collaborative arroyo to veterans in the criminal justice system across the UK, including coordination, communication and effective working practices between all the major stakeholders.

Objectives

produce accurate statistics on the ex-service population in prison service establishments (snapshot analysis)
produce accurate statistics of the number of ex-service personnel on probation (serving customs sentences or released on licence)
monitor changes in statistics of the ex-service population
tailor back up for veterans in those prison house establishments with higher ex-service populations and which analysis shows to take specific problems, including mental health. Take into account the differing requirements during imprisonment, pre and postal service belch
raise awareness (veterans and staff in prison establishments and probation service) of support available from Veterans United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and the voluntary and community sector through appropriate means of communications and publicity including through the Veterans United kingdom website
feedback from prison establishments to gauge the level of awareness of the 'working group' and services for veterans and recommend improvements if necessary
SSAFA Forces Assist, The Majestic British Legion (TRBL) and Combat Stress to carry prison visits every bit appropriate
SSAFA, TRBL and Combat Stress provide feedback of progress/issues at working groups. TRBL and SSAFA and Combat Stress feedback should cover periodic reports on casework including as advisable the type of welfare help requested and provided, preparation conducted etc
Middle for Mental Health to feedback on issues and progress around veterans mental health arising from the reference group they have established to look at this surface area
devise measures of effectiveness to gauge the impact of the working group and related activities in reducing re-offending
highlight problems of concern raised by the Ex-Service Offenders Working Group (ESOWG) to the MOJ and MOD. Report progress in order that ministers can exist kept informed

Homelessness

Homelessness is defined every bit having no permanent accommodation, and includes people in hostels and those couch-surfing. Rough sleeping is merely those people actually sleeping on the streets.

Responsibility

The master responsibleness for homelessness policy lies with DCLG in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Each policy lead has a strategy for treatment homelessness amongst the general population and assigning social housing to particular individuals.

At that place are variations in the way that waiting lists are operated by the social housing provider - eg. local authorization, housing association, or registered social landlord - as responsibility has been devolved to them provided they operate within agreed housing regulations.

When in-service all accommodation needs are met by the MOD then in-service personnel are a low priority on a social housing waiting lists.

Local connexion

Until recently, no recognition was given to service personnel if, on leaving the armed forces, they wanted to apply for social housing in an area local to their duty station; their awarding could simply be based on their place of origin. This meant some service leavers struggled to secure accommodation.

Legislation changed in England, Scotland and Wales to enable service personnel to institute a 'local connection' with the expanse in which they are serving or have served to allow parity of treatment with civilians already living in the expanse with regards to accessing social housing. This puts the armed forces on an equal ground to others when applying for social housing. The changes exercise non mean that service personnel can 'queue jump' others on the social waiting list. Where they still have an entitlement to MOD adaptation, they would be treated the same equally anybody else who is suitably housed simply wish to employ for social housing, ie. at depression priority. The provisions in Northern Ireland are already of a good standard.

Certificate of Abeyance

Service personnel can inform the social housing provider that they volition lose their entitlement to MOD accommodation up to half dozen months in advance of a belch date through issue of a 'Certificate of Cessation to Occupation' of MOD living accommodation. This warns the social housing provider that the housing options available demand to consider, taking into account family construct, hereafter employment and the individual'southward finances. It does not mean an automatic entitlement to social housing or a ticket to motility to the top of the waiting list.

The certificate does not accept the place of a social housing application or requite automated entitlement to social housing on or before discharge date. The certificate is simply a guidance note for social housing providers. It is not legislative but should alert all parties to start engaging on housing options for the individual in accelerate of a belch engagement. This minimises uncertainty and prevents Modern having to become to courtroom to gain a 'possession guild' for the service adaptation.

Possession orders

Homelessness legislation only applies to a service person once a 'possession order' has been issued. The effect of the issuing of 'possession guild' is that the service person'south social housing awarding moves from consideration under social housing regulations to homelessness legislation.

Nether homelessness legislation the service person's awarding is prioritised, depending upon circumstances (family construct and finances), and they may exist given temporary/interim living accommodation (such as bed & breakfast), until a permanent solution can be found. A permanent solution may vary from family to family depending on circumstances, availability and timelines.

Supporting homeless veterans: Mike Jackson House

Mike Jackson House (MJH) is a supported housing project based in Aldershot specifically designed for homeless veterans.

MJH'due south chief aim is to support and assist veterans dorsum into an independent way of living.

The accommodation block has 25 furnished, self-independent flats, and located in Aldershot. Information technology was opened in July 2008 and named after General Sir Mike Jackson, erstwhile caput of the British army and run past the Riverside Care and Back up, funded by Hampshire County Council.

Client ages have ranged from 17 to 61, with numerous back up needs from alcohol and drugs issues, mental wellness, post traumatic stress disorders, homelessness, unemployment and poor education skills.

The staff at MJH are pro-active in finding solutions and support to help the tenants achieve their goals whilst they stay at MJH. They currently employ 3 support workers and 1 peer back up worker with a client caseload of 7 clients each with the peer support worker picking up the remaining iv clients who present the most challenging behaviour.

Facilities

Communal areas: places for veterans to meet and chat in a relaxing atmosphere with staff away from an interview room setting.

IT suite: this is the nearly used facility in the scheme. MJH take to operate a booking arrangement equally it is ever full. They currently have 5 PCs and information technology's run on the same basis every bit an internet café.

Training kitchen: staff have supported residents in cooking skills, cooking on a budget - skills that almost of the veterans don't have.

Supporting homeless veterans: The Beacon

The Beacon is a new facility in Catterick for homeless single ex-service leavers and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

The Beacon provides a supported housing facility for 31 homeless veterans and opened in September 2011. It is managed and operated by Riverside Care and Support in Catterick almost the existing garrison. It provides grooming and support (e.m a training kitchen, workshop, IT suite and garden) and accepts complex referrals, such every bit veterans with PTSD and substance abuse problems.

The Prince's Trust besides plan to run an entrepreneurship plan at The Beacon using role of a £5 million fund provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for supporting veterans nether the age of 30 to run their ain businesses.

MOD gifted the country on which the scheme is built and provided beginning-upwardly funding from the Veterans Claiming Fund. Partnership funding was likewise secured from the Homes and Communities Bureau and the DCLG, in improver to voluntary and community sector organisations.

Ministerial working group on tackling homelessness

The aim of the ministerial working group is to improve people'south lives by preventing and tackling homelessness. By bringing the relevant government departments together to share data, resolve issues and avoid unintended policy consequences, it volition exist able to assist enable communities to tackle the multi-faceted problems that contribute to homelessness. It meets quarterly.

Formal policy decisions made by the working group will be subject to the usual processes of collective cabinet commission clearance.

Membership and departmental involvement in homelessness:

DCLG (housing and homelessness) (chair)
MOD (defence personnel, welfare and veterans)
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (developed skills)
Department of Health (wellness and care services)
Department for Work and Pensions (welfare and employment)
MOJ (criminal justice)
Dwelling Office (policing and immigration)
Department for Didactics (children and youth services)

The atomic number 82 policy official from each department will too nourish.

Voluntary and community sector

Modern works closely with many dissimilar organisations within the voluntary and community sector. We are committed to working in partnership with the ex-service charitable sector to deliver a high level of support where needed and particularly to the more vulnerable individuals in the armed services customs.

In that location is a long and distinguished history of charitable contributions supporting the welfare and recreation of service personnel and veterans. Many charities have historical connections with the military machine, such as The Imperial British Legion and SSAFA-Forces Help.

The defence budget cannot meet every welfare and recreational need that is identified amid the military machine community. The continuing generous support of charities sits aslope the provision of facilities from public funds, as is the practice in many walks of life in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

Forging stronger partnerships by building on existing arrangements and developing better relationships with the voluntary and community sector helps to see these welfare and recreational needs.

In MOD the pb responsibleness for voluntary and community sector problems rests with the Deputy Chief of Defense force Staff (Personnel and Grooming). Several areas within caput role, including DCDS Pers and the Director of Media and Communications savor a good relationship with the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations ("Website for the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations") (COBSEO).

COBSEO is a membership organisation of 169 organisations, including 66 Regimental Associations. Their members range from larger charities such every bit The Imperial British Legion and the British Limbless Ex Servicemen's Clan to smaller organisations such as the Burma Star Association. COBSEO provides a focus to communicate the concerns of its member organisations, and to consult with the MOD ensuring that the needs of the military machine community are considered when MOD polices are developed.

Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs exist to assist veterans, and oftentimes currently serving armed forces personnel, past meeting face to face, in a relaxed, safe, social environment and assist remove social exclusion/isolation. Breakfast Clubs be to aid and support veterans and is free to attend and run "By Veterans For Veterans" and "for the Benefit of Veterans" and no Private (veteran or visitor) should be discriminated against because of age, ability, ethnicity or religious/political views.

Applied examples of voluntary and community sector partnerships include:

Welfare pathway
Army recovery capability
Mental health pilots

Identified needs could be as individual as a seriously injured serving soldier requiring adaptations to their property, to the provision of a supported housing facility for service leavers at adventure of becoming homeless.

Voluntary organisations

The War machine Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for any injury, illness or death which is predominantly acquired past service on or after 6 Apr 2005.

You may be wishing to both explain the scheme to your members and direct a potential claimant to the experts at Veterans United kingdom (formerly the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency), who administrate the scheme.

You can give individuals full general awareness about the scheme through these channels:

'the Essential Guide to the AFCS' leaflet

a contact card and a poster for display

You tin gain further information through the following channels:

presentation on the scheme

visit Military Compensation to download a claim form
phone the gratis helpline for information and guidance: 0808 1914 2 18 (Great britain just), +44 1253 866 043 (overseas)

Information technology is important that any data that y'all may give to claimants does not try and predict the outcome of their claim. Whatever specific queries should exist directed to the experts at Veterans UK.

Commemoration: war graves

Members of the armed forces who died during either of the two earth wars, between 4 August 1914 to 31 Baronial 1921, and 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947, are buried in official world state of war graves. The graves of service personnel who died subsequently 1947 are categorised as not-world war graves. The definition of not-world war graves besides encompasses the graves of those service dependents who died overseas, while accompanying service personnel, and are buried in war machine cemeteries.

The MOD's commitment to the maintenance of service graves is largely determined past the age of the grave.

Pre-Globe War 1

Before Earth War one the burying of the deceased was traditionally a function of the transport or regiment to which they belonged. No formal aid was offered past the, and so, Admiralty or War Role, and only a limited number of such graves are maintained at Modernistic's expense. These are more often than not graves located in a armed forces cemetery funded past the MOD where all graves are maintained automatically and failure to exercise so would backbite from the overall appearance of the cemetery.

World State of war 1 and 2

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was established and is funded to provide a permanent official commemoration for those who died in the 2 world wars. It maintains in perpetuity the graves and the official memorials which commemorate those who have no known graves. The CWGC's principle of non-repatriation of war dead was implemented for both earth wars so that those who fought and fell together could be honoured together. The UK authorities, one of the six member Commonwealth countries supporting the CWGC, contributes over 78% of the funding for this work which is proportionate to our number of war dead.

The inter-state of war years

Betwixt one September 1921 and 2 September 1939 responsibleness for service burials reverted to the pre-1914 arrangements whereby ships, regiments and units buried their own expressionless without fundamental assist. Yet, dependent on service, some casualties were provided with an official headstone and, in some instances, they received a service (as distinct from a private) funeral. Uncommonly, these relatively few graves are maintained at public expense. As with pre-World State of war 1 graves, inter-state of war year graves may be maintained at public expense if they are located in a military machine cemetery funded by the Modern where all graves are maintained automatically and failure to practice then would detract from the overall advent of the cemetery.

1948 and beyond

Since ane January 1948 it has been the Modernistic's policy that if a member of the armed forces dies in service their next of kin (NOK) are offered the opportunity of the individual having a service funeral and official headstone, to be maintained in perpetuity at public expense.

Service personnel and, if serving overseas, their accompanying dependents, who died postal service one January 1948, were cached in non-world war graves locally or could be repatriated at individual expense for a private funeral.

In 1963, the Great britain authorities's policy of non-repatriation changed and if service personnel or their accompanying dependents died while serving in north west Europe, next of kin were allowed the choice of either repatriating and burying the torso at public expense or for two relatives to travel out to nourish the service funeral overseas.

In 1967, the policy was extended to cover the rest of the globe.

It was decided at the time that these arrangements would non be retrospective. However, service personnel, or their accompanying dependents, who died while serving overseas after 1 January 1948 can be repatriated at private expense for a private funeral.

Private graves

The MOD will maintain in perpetuity the graves of all personnel who died in service on or afterwards ane January 1948, who had both a service funeral and a service headstone, and the grave has been registered to the Mod. Where the NOK elect to have a private funeral, or cull a non-Modern pattern headstone, the graves are maintained privately and the Modern has no responsibility for them.

Related information:

MOD crests or unit badges for apply on memorials and headstones: permission

Non Regular Permanent Staff: Pension and attributable benefits schemes and NRPS redundancy scheme regulations

Non Regular Permanent Staff alimony scheme

The Non Regular Permanent Staff pension scheme, previously under chapter 9 of TA regulations 1978, has been re-stated in Schedule 1 of the Defence Council Regulations and contains no fundamental change to the benefits payable.

The re-fabricated scheme incorporates amendments required as a result of changes to occupational pension legislation including provisions for pensions on divorce, payment to civil partners and increasing the upper age limit for payment of children's pensions. Information technology as well makes provision to pay pensions for life to all adult dependants where death is caused by service, reflecting changes to MOD policy. The owing benefits for injury or death caused by service have been removed to a separate scheme to comply with tax legislation.

Non Regular Permanent Staff attributable benefits scheme

A has been established at Schedule 2 of the Defence force Quango Regulations for injury or decease caused by Service earlier 6 April 2005, (payment for injury or death caused by Service from 6 April 2005 is fabricated nether the Armed Forces Compensation scheme).

This is because the Finance Deed 2004 introduced a new pension tax regime under which payments from a pension scheme for attributable injury or death would exist unauthorised payments and tax charges would exist levied on both the individual fellow member of the scheme and the alimony scheme. At that place are no changes to the level of benefits previously set out in Chapter 9 of TA Regulations 1978, but in line with changes to the pension scheme provision is made to pay benefits to civil partners and unmarried partners, and benefits to all adult dependants are payable for life.

Non Regular Permanent Staff back-up scheme

On nine August 2012, were extended to members of the NRPS who are made redundant. The previous redundancy scheme arrangements were gear up out in the Territorial Army Regulations 1978 just these were revoked on 1 September 2011 by The Reserve Forces Non Regular Permanent Staff (Pension and attributable benefits schemes) Regulations 2011.

Medical and dental officers bonus scheme

The bonus arrangements for medical and dental officers replace the benefits available to members of Armed forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) 05 (and those who accept opted out) under the Early Deviation Payments (EDP) scheme.

The bonus arrangements non only replace the EDP, just also the Committee Transfer Grant (CTG) currently paid to Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs) who transfer from a 'short' to 'medium' commission. GMPs who chose to transfer to AFPS 05 and are eligible for the first primary care bonuses having already received a CTG will receive the bonus payment less the value of the CTG.

Where practice I find out more than about the bonus scheme?

The directed letter details the bonus scheme and the eligibility points, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide more information on the scheme.

How do I apply for a bonus?

You demand to complete the application grade

Pension Taxation Relief - almanac assart and scheme pays

What is the annual allowance?

This is the almanac limit on pensions savings, ie. the annual growth in the value of the alimony pot, allowed without incurring a tax charge. In the case of the military machine pension schemes, this is the corporeality of value that tin exist added each yr to the value of the pension.

Significant changes to the annual allowance (AA) came into event on 6 April 2011 when the annual taxation free allowance was reduced from £255,000 to £50,000.

Who Is probable to exist affected?

Simply a small number of service personnel will exceed the new limit on the basis of their armed forces pension alone. Other ranks are highly unlikely to be affected by these changes, but some officers may incur a tax liability on promotion. This is likely to get-go to impact on promotion from OF3 (Major and equivalent) to OF4 (Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent), particularly for those promoting late in their career; only the most pronounced outcome is expected at the ranks of OF5 (Colonel and equivalent) and in a higher place. Additionally, the most senior officers (OF7 and above) may besides incur a revenue enhancement liability every bit a consequence of annual pay increments.

The introduction of Scheme Pays

On 11 Baronial 2011 HM Acquirement & Customs (HMRC) introduced a process called Scheme Pays to assist individuals in meeting role or all of any tax neb arising as a issue of breaching the AA. Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) members who incur an AA tax pecker exceeding £2,000 may elect for the tax due to be paid by the AFPS. This amount volition so exist recovered by a reduction in the alimony benefits paid on retirement.

Breaching the almanac assart

Individuals who exceed the AA because of the growth in the value of their AFPS benefits will be alerted by Veterans U.k., via pension statements sent by the end of October post-obit the end of the tax year (October 2012 for FY 11/12). Where the AA is exceeded, individuals volition need to declare this to HMRC via a self assessment tax return, due no afterwards than 31 January following the stop of the tax year (31 January xiii for FY 11/12).

Veterans UK cannot take into account any personal alimony arrangements that individuals may take made when computing potential AA tax charges.

Individuals who believe that they may have exceeded the AA considering of a combination of personal and AFPS pension savings must make their own contained calculations for the cumulative value of all alimony schemes.

Service personnel may request a pension argument to help them with this adding once per twelvemonth complimentary of accuse by writing to Veterans United kingdom. This tin can exist requested at any time and in addition to the argument that will exist issued in Oct.

Electing Scheme Pays and other methods of meeting the taxation charge

Individuals will demand to asking a Scheme Pays forecast from Veterans Great britain, a asking proforma volition be issued aslope the AA pension argument. Upon issuing the forecast, Veterans UK will also automatically effect an election form for Scheme Pays.

Members should give careful consideration as to which method of meeting the tax accuse is most appropriate for them given their financial circumstance and should seek independent financial advice if needed. This may include a personal payment in full, or in office payment in conjunction with Scheme Pays, to meet the charge.

Adjustment of taxation lawmaking

For tax charges below £three,000 individuals can request HMRC to adjust their taxation code to allow the tax charge to be recovered. A request for a tax code adjustment needs to be made directly to HMRC in the normal cocky cess procedure. The deadline for requesting this facility is 30 December.

Veterans UK will not exist able to provide communication or guidance on coming together the revenue enhancement accuse via tax lawmaking adjustments.

Deadline for electing Scheme Pays

The deadline for completing an ballot grade for Scheme Pays will normally be the 31 July in the yr following the yr in which the taxation accuse relates ended. For the outset year of operation (FY 2011/12) this deadline has been extended to 31 December 2013.

HMRC must also be informed of a determination to elect for Scheme Pays by 31 Jan following the end of the tax year. This is done through the normal self-cess tax return procedure. For 2011/12 the deadline will be 31 January 2013.

Pension Tax Relief - Lifetime Allowance

What is the lifetime allowance?

Lifetime allowance (LTA) is the limit on total pension savings eligible for tax relief. It was initially introduced in tax year 2006 to 2007 at a limit of £1.v million, rising to £1.8 million in 2010 to 2011. From six April 2012 the LTA limit was reduced from £ane.8 million to £one.five million. If the LTA is exceeded a taxation accuse is applied.

The LTA applies to the total amount of pension savings held in registered pension schemes, including occupational pension schemes such as the military machine pension schemes and personal alimony arrangements.

LTA is assessed either at point of retirement or when alimony benefits are drawn. Whatsoever tax due is automatically recovered from the pension, with a reduced pension being paid. Widows/widowers and dependents pension benefits volition be calculated on the unreduced alimony.

What changes have been introduced to the LTA?

On 11 Baronial 2011 HMRC announced the availability of a protection regime called Stock-still Protection to assist individuals who have or look to take a alimony pot in backlog of £1.five million (for Armed forces Alimony Scheme (AFPS), broadly equivalent to an annual pension of £65,000) after six April 2012.

Fixed Protection allows an private to 'fix' his/her LTA up to a maximum of £1.eight million afterward 6 Apr 2012, rather than the reduced LTA of £1.5 one thousand thousand. Members had to notify Veterans U.k. of their intention to apply for Stock-still Protection past 31 March 2012 and HMRC by 05 April 2012. Members can no longer apply for Fixed Protection.

Inheritance Tax exemption for veterans

When someone dies, Inheritance Taxation must normally be paid on their manor (everything they owned at the fourth dimension of death), if their manor is worth more that a certain amount (currently £325,000). The primary exemption is if they leave their total estate to their spouse.

However, the manor of serving or formers members of the military machine may be certified every bit beingness exempt from inheritance tax under the provisions of s154 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, if the Mod agrees the death resulted from, was linked to, or hastened past, an injury or affliction suffered (or aggravated) whilst on active service against the enemy or other service of a warlike nature, such as operations against hostile forces in peace fourth dimension or anti-terrorist operations or for deaths occurring on or later on xix March 2014, where the individual was targeted and killed because they were a serving or former member of the armed forces, or death occurred on or tin can be linked to injuries sustained on duty whilst responding to an emergency circumstance.

Whilst the total exemption is non transferrable to a spouse'south manor, the granting of an exemption on a veteran's estate will double (currently to £650,000) ) the personal tax threshold used to assess any inheritance tax liability on the spouses estate when they dice.

Each awarding for an exemption nether s154 and s155a is considered on its merits, after the death of the veteran concerned, and requires the MOD to exist given access to the veteran's full medical records. Neither state of war time service in the armed forces, or receipt of a war alimony, is guarantee that an exemption will exist granted.

Anyone wishing to utilise for an exemption on a veteran's estate under s154 / s155a should contact the MOD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre:

Defence Business Services
Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (Deceased Estates)
Room G35
Innsworth Business firm
Imjin Barracks
Gloucester GL3 1HW
Telephone: 01452 712612 Ext 8174

or Email: DBS-JCCCGroupMailbox@mod.gov.great britain

Veterans UK

SSAFA Forces Assistance

Help For Heroes

Combat Stress ("Combat Stress website")

Blesma