Veterans' support

Last updated: 22 July 2019

A veteran is anyone who either:

  • has served for at least one day in Her Majesty's Armed Forces (regular and reserve)
  • was a Merchant Mariner who saw duty on military operations

If you're a veteran, you can get support in these areas:

Veterans are entitled to the same healthcare as any citizen. And there are health care options and support available specifically for veterans.

If you have a health condition that's related to your service, you're entitled to priority treatment based on clinical need.

If you need help finding a place to live there's support specifically for veterans.

You can get funding for qualifications if you've been in the armed forces.

If you're looking for a job, there are several organisations that can help you find a job or develop new skills.

Armed forces and veterans pensions are administered by Veterans UK, part of the UK government.

There are a number of veterans support organisations that can help you get settled when you leave the armed forces.

Scottish Government support

The Scottish Government is committed to making sure no member of the armed forces veterans community in Scotland faces any disadvantage when accessing services and support. This is further explained in the Renewing our Commitments publication.

The Scottish Government has also appointed a Scottish Veterans Commissioner whose remit is to improve outcomes for all veterans. The commissioner is independent of the government and they have their own dedicated funding.

Local council and health board veterans champions

Local councils and NHS health boards in Scotland have Veterans Champions. They are officials who help make sure the needs of the ex-service community are met in their area.

Apply for a veterans badge

The armed forces lapel badge is for veterans to show that they served in the armed forces.