What the Spring Budget means for the Veteran Community

The Chancellor announced his latest Spring Budget earlier this month, but what does it mean for veterans?

Compared to recent spending reviews, there were few veteran-specific measures to note in the Chancellor's speech, but it was confirmed that up to £1 million will be provided to support a new war memorial to pay tribute to the Muslim soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, opened up his speech by pledging that “whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices made for our future.”

The Budget also confirmed that £26 million will be given to underwrite the UK’s bid to host the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, and that the Government will be hosting a D-Day 80 National Commemoration Event in June.

We know that, for many of those we support, the cost-of-living crisis also continues to bite, and to help struggling households it was announced that:

• National Insurance has been cut by another 2p. This will begin next month and the Government claim this will be worth £450 a year for the average worker.
• The Household Support Fund, which helps vulnerable households struggling with rising energy bills and the rising cost of living has been extended for a further six months. This had been set to expire by April.
• The Budget also included an extension of the repayment period for Universal Credit repayments from 12 to 24 months, as well as abolishing the application fee for Debt Relief Orders.

While these measures are welcome, there remain vital gaps in provision for the Armed Forces Community to address. As we lead up to a General Election, we will continue to play our part in making sure the voices of those who need and deserve these services are heard.