Care Support for Veterans and Ex-Service Personnel

If your relative served in the armed forces, there's a network of dedicated support that many families never discover — extra funding, specialist charities, and even care homes just for veterans. Here's what's available.

Older veterans and their spouses or partners may be entitled to help with the cost and arranging of care that goes beyond the usual routes. It's often underclaimed, simply because people don't know it exists. This guide points you to the main sources — worth exploring alongside standard care funding.

Financial help specific to veterans

On top of the usual benefits and council funding, ex-service personnel may be able to claim:

• War Pension Scheme / Armed Forces Compensation Scheme — payments for illness or injury caused or made worse by service. These can include extra allowances where someone needs care or has significant disability.
• Constant Attendance Allowance — an extra payment for those on a high War Pension who need a lot of daily care.
• The usual benefits too — veterans are equally entitled to Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit and council care funding; veteran-specific payments can sit alongside these.

The charities — practical and financial help

The armed-forces charity sector is large, generous and used to helping with exactly these situations. Many give grants (including towards care costs, home adaptations or mobility equipment), advice, and befriending. Key names to know:

• The Royal British Legion and SSAFA — broad support, advice and grants for veterans and their families.
• Service-specific funds — such as the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF The Soldiers' Charity), the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
• Combat Stress and others for mental-health needs linked to service.

Care homes for veterans

There are dedicated care homes for ex-service personnel — run by charities such as the Royal Star & Garter, Erskine (in Scotland) and others — offering residential, nursing and dementia care in a community of people who share that background. For some veterans, being among others who understand service life is a real comfort. These homes are open to eligible veterans (and often their spouses), sometimes with charitable support towards fees.

How to start

• Contact Veterans UK about War Pensions and allowances.
• Ring the Royal British Legion or SSAFA helpline — they can assess what's available and point you to the right funds.
• Still get a council needs assessment and financial assessment — veteran support sits on top of, not instead of, the standard system.
• Have service details to hand (regiment/service, dates) where you can, as some help depends on eligibility.