Advice for the armed forces community

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

Are you in the armed forces community

You're a member of the armed forces community if you're:

  • currently serving in the armed forces - either regular or reserve

  • a veteran who served in the armed forces - either regular or reserve

  • a member of the Merchant Navy who served on a commercial vessel in support of legally defined UK military operations

  • a dependant - for example, the partner or child of someone who's currently serving in the armed forces, a veteran or a member of the Merchant Navy.

Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP)

The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) is run by Citizens Advice Scotland.

ASAP can help you with:

  • benefits

  • debt and money advice

  • housing

  • work-related problems

  • consumer issues

  • relationships.

The advice and support is free, confidential and impartial.

To get in touch, you can:

  • call 0333 220 8951 free

  • ask the service to call you - use the form on the ASAP website to send your contact details and an adviser will get in touch.

For more information about the service and links to other useful websites, you can visit the ASAP website.

Get advice

You can get free, impartial, confidential advice on a wide range of topics from Citizens Advice Scotland. Find out how to get advice.

Other organisations

There are several organisations that can offer advice and support to members of the armed forces community.

Poppyscotland

Poppyscotland provides help and support to the armed forces community in Scotland. This includes help for veterans of all ages as well as those who are still serving and their families. It can provide tailored help with:

  • grants and funding

  • advice

  • employment services

  • mobility

  • respite breaks

  • housing

  • mental health.

Legion Scotland 

Legion Scotland offers free and confidential advice and representation to any veteran or serving member of the armed forces to pursue their possible entitlement to a war disablement pension or a claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. You don't have to be a member of Legion Scotland. 

For more information about the Legion Scotland Pension Appeals and Tribunals Service, call 0131 550 1566 or email pensionenquiries@legionscotland.org.uk. 

Scottish government

There's information about support for the armed forces community on mygov.scot, including on:

Unforgotten Forces

Veterans aged 60 or over and their families living in Scotland can access services and support from Unforgotten Forces, a partnership of armed forces and civilian charities.

Unforgotten Forces services for older veterans cover areas such as:

  • advice

  • access to healthcare

  • social isolation and respite

  • creative activities and events for those in care settings.

Find out more about Unforgotten Forces on the Age Scotland website.

SSAFA – the armed forces charity

SSAFA provides lifelong support to anyone who is serving in, or is a veteran of, the armed forces. It provides a wide range of practical and emotional support, including welfare advice, housing and healthcare support. SSAFA is an independent charity and not part of the military chain of command.

The SSAFA Forcesline is a free, confidential helpline and email service that can be contacted from anywhere in the world. Find out how to contact Forcesline on the SSAFA website.

RFEA - the armed forces employment charity

RFEA provides careers advice and job and training opportunities for service leavers and veterans. You can register with RFEA and they will contact you directly.

Combat Stress

Combat Stress is a UK charity for veterans' mental health. They help former servicemen and -women with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Veterans UK

Veterans UK is part of the UK Ministry of Defence and is responsible for information about:

Veterans Assist   

Veterans Assist is part of Veterans Scotland. It collects into one place a wide range of information about the veterans community and veterans support organisations.

Veterans First Point

Veterans First Point is a free service to help veterans and their families adjust to civilian life. It's part of the NHS in Scotland and is run by veterans and clinicians. The help it can offer includes:

  • peer support workers - who can help veterans and their families adjust to civilian life

  • specialist mental health and well-being support - advice and treatment

  • drop-in centres across Scotland - for socialising, meeting other veterans and accessing general support and advice.

Veterans Gateway

Veterans Gateway is a UK-wide website that aims to be the first point of contact for veterans and their families across the UK and abroad. It provides information and links to a wide range of specialist organisations, providing advice about:

  • housing - for example, finding a home or advice about homelessness 

  • employment - for example, finding work after you leave the armed forces

  • living independently - for example, help with mobility or care issues

  • mental well-being - for example, advice about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or help with bereavement

  • physical health - for example, medical discharge or accessing support for service related illnesses

  • families and communities - for example, help with family troubles or how to access support groups.

Self-help information is available on the website. It offers UK-wide, Scottish-only and local information.

Advice is also available from a team of expert advisers by phone, email or live webchat. This help is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Defence Medical Welfare Service

The Defence Medical Welfare Service is an independent charity that provides medical welfare to those who have operated, and continue to operate, on the front line.

Fares4Free

Fares4Free supports veterans and their families throughout Scotland with transport to essential, recreational and therapeutic appointments that they otherwise would be unable to attend.