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<p>Support for veterans is provided by a number of Government Departments and is overseen
by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) within the Cabinet Office. The OVA is working
with other Government Departments that provide support to veterans and is engaged
with the service charity sector to understand how the veterans’ community may be impacted,
including in the forthcoming Veterans Survey, and in a recent Cobseo-led survey specifically
relating to the cost of living.</p><p> </p><p>The Government provides support to the
Armed Forces Community through the £10 million per annum Covenant Fund. The Armed
Forces Covenant Fund Trust distributes this funding to charities and community interest
companies across the United Kingdom. Current funds, such as the Reaching and Supporting
Armed Forces Communities programme, provide vital support to those who need it most.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is committed to supporting all households, including serving
personnel and veterans, with the current costs of living. Defence has implemented
the independent Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s 2022 pay award recommendations in
full, including a pay uplift of 3.75% for all Service Personnel up to and including
1-star rank; frozen the daily food charge for our Armed Forces personnel; capped subsidised
accommodation charge increases to one per cent; increased Get You Home and Home to
Duty rates by 7 per cent; ensured that the council tax rebate reaches those in military
accommodation, and is saving military families up to £3,000 per child per year by
extending the availability of free wraparound childcare.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In
addition, my officials at Veterans UK will process Winter Fuel Payments for eligible
veterans whose only government-paid income is from a War Disablement Pension. Through
its Veterans Welfare Service, Veterans UK provides one-to-one welfare support and
advice to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants.</p>
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