On this page you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Armed Forces Covenant.
Further information the measures of support currently in place for the Armed Forces Community can be found in 'The Armed Forces Covenant: Today and Tomorrow' which can be accessed via the related link.
If you cannot find an answer to your question below you may find the information you need by visiting one of the related pages. Alternatively you can
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This page will be updated regularly to reflect the most commonly asked questions.
The Armed Forces Covenant
Q. What mechanisms are there to ensure the Armed Forces Covenant is adhered to and does not become a long list of broken promises?
The Government has made a number of clear commitments which are contained in 'The Armed Forces Covenant: Today and Tomorrow' and departments across Government (such as Dept for Education and Dept of Health) are working to put those into action. We have already delivered a number of measures such as doubling Council Tax Relief and introducing a £3M fund to support state schools with Service children and we are pressing on with the others. The Armed Forces Bill, currently going through Parliament, places a requirement on the Defence Secretary to submit an annual Armed Forces Covenant report to Parliament. This will set out how the Government is supporting our Armed Forces, veterans and their families and ensure that this and future Governments will be held to account for how well the Armed Forces community is supported.
Q. Why are the measures in the Armed Forces Covenant not always applicable across all four of the hone countries, such as the Pupil Premium?
Much of what is contained in the Covenant is UK wide but where matters are devolved, such as education and healthcare, the Devolved Governments are taking forward a number of measures to support the Armed Forces community which reflect the different legislative landscape and the way in which their public services are delivered. It is for them to account for the measures they are taking, but we will work with their respective new governments to get the best outcome for the Armed Forces community.
Q. Why is the Covenant written in such aspirational terms?
The principles of the Covenant are intended to be enduring and represent the levels of support we expect our people to receive. However rebuilding the Covenant is a process, not an event, and the detail on the specific steps we are currently taking and committed to in striving towards reaching these aspirations are contained in ‘The Armed Forces Covenant: Today and Tomorrow’ which is also published today.
Q. The Covenant contains some admirable principles but how will you ensure it means something on the ground?
Whilst the Covenant itself sets the enduring principles which will guide Government to set appropriate policies, the ‘Today and Tomorrow’ paper sets out the concrete actions we are taking to support the Armed Forces community. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures by collecting evidence such as our families survey.
Healthcare, Education and Housing
Q. Why hasn’t more been done included in the Covenant in respect of dentistry?
Whilst this was one of the most common frustrations expressed by Service families action to quantify and substantiate particular problems found the issues to be anecdotal, and in many cases, out of date. Most problems were resolved through the provision of advice in particular in respect of local practices taking on new patients. It was therefore decided by MOD and Department of Health not to trial mobile services as initially suggested however work continues to gather information in respect of difficulties with dentistry and the commitment remains under review.
Q. What is the Covenant doing to ensure that Service personnel and their families receive the same medical care no matter where in the UK they are posted?
The Covenant contains measures to ensure that Service personnel and their families are able to access the healthcare that they need without disadvantage compared to civilians also living in the same area - such as the ability to retain their place on NHS waiting lists if moving from one healthcare area to another. However it cannot guarantee that the same type of treatment will be available if they move from one area to another as this is at the discretion of Primary Care Trusts. However we work closely with the Departments of Health and will continue to monitor this issue.
Q. What further improvements are you going to implement from Dr Murrison’s report and when?
We intend to introduce enhanced mental health assessments at the point of recruitment and at all subsequent routine health assessments, including those undertaken when personnel are released from service. This will involve the completion of questionnaires used routinely in clinical practice and discussion of the results with a healthcare professional. We will also put in place a system to provide the newly formed Veterans’ Information Service with the means to contact Service leavers after they have left the Armed Forces. We are currently working on the means to implement these changes and anticipate introducing them later in 2011.
Benefits and Tax, Terms and Conditions of Service, Commercial Products
Q. Service personnel who are out of the country for an extended period of time often face financial penalties on their return, or have trouble getting credit. What is the Covenant doing to address this?
Currently members of the Armed Forces and their families can be disadvantaged in accessing credit related products due to the adverse effect that regular moves of home, being outside of the country and living at BFPO addresses can have on their credit rating. We plan to work with banks and building societies to address areas of disadvantage in order to ensure our people have fairer access to these products.
Q. Doubling Council Tax Relief is all very well but why do Service Personnel have to pay Council Tax at all?
As the guidance to the Armed Forces Covenant states: Service personnel whilst they have access to the same benefits as any UK citizen they also therefore contribute through taxation although this taxation system may be adapted to reflect their particular circumstances. Doubling council tax relief is an example of this. In addition those on operations have recently had their Operation Allowance doubled.
Q. Job seekers allowance is not being paid to spouses who give up their job to follow their Service spouse on assignment because they are seen to have left their job voluntarily. Can the Covenant do something about this?
This should not be happening. Spouses of service personnel who leave employment to follow their partner will have just cause for leaving that employment provided they did not leave earlier than was reasonably necessary in order to arrange the move. This means they should not be precluded from receiving Job seeker's Allowance on the grounds of voluntary unemployment. Each case is considered on an individual basis using the relevant legislation and the information provided by the person claiming JSA.