Supporting our veterans

Today, 6th June 2024, the Conservatives announced plans to ensure the UK remains the best place in the world to be a veteran. 

• We are proud of our record of supporting veterans – but we want to build on our clear plan with bold action to make sure the UK remains the best place in the world to be a veteran. 
• That is why we have set out a clear new plan for veterans, including a new Veterans’ Bill to enshrine veterans’ rights, a dedicated minister, extending tax breaks for businesses who employ veterans, and cheaper railcards – recognising and rewarding veterans throughout their lifetimes. 

We will do this by:

• Bringing into law the first ever Veterans’ Bill, enshrining veterans’ rights into law for the first time. We will introduce the UK’s first ever Veterans’ Bill to enshrine veterans’ rights into law, such as ensuring military qualifications have an equal standing with civilians’ qualifications in law for the first time, securing the UK’s status as a world leader in support for veterans. 

• Extending the visa fees waiver introduced to cover Commonwealth personnel to include their direct dependents, acknowledging both their personal contribution and service to our nation. We have already waived the full fee of £2,389 for those eligible personnel and veterans who have served for at least six years and wish to settle in the UK. We will now extend this to cover Commonwealth personnel to include their direct dependents.

• Extending tax cuts for businesses who employ veterans, helping to get them into the workplace after leaving service. Employers can already qualify for National Insurance contributions relief for up to twelve months when hiring veterans who are working in a civilian job. 

• We will extend this to reward employers who back our veterans, while also extending employment opportunities for many talented veterans across the country. Since 2015 the veterans’ employment rate has risen from 80 per cent to 89 per cent. We will bring forward measures to disregard War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme awards as income from benefits and pensions.

• Cutting the cost of the Veterans’ Railcard by almost a third, recognising veterans’ service for our country. The price of a Veterans Railcard will be cut from £30 per year to £21, bringing it in line with the price serving personnel currently pay for the HM Forces Railcard. 

• Preserving the Office for Veterans Affairs with a dedicated Minister in Cabinet, ensuring veterans’ voices are heard at the highest level in Government. We introduced an Office for Veterans’ Affairs for the first time in its history to ensure that when our Armed Forces personnel leave service, they are looked after in the manner they deserve. We remain committed to maintaining the budget of the Office at £10 million throughout the next parliament.