Support for UK Veterans
This briefing paper details the support available to armed forces veterans in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Between 1978 and 1997, contracted-out defined benefit pension schemes were required to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). This briefing looks at the arrangements for increasing GMP rights for people reaching State Pension age before and after 6 April 2016 and for members of public service pension schemes.
Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) increases (294 KB , PDF)
For people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the State Pension has two tiers:
When the additional State Pension was introduced, it was possible to contract-out. This meant that both the employer and employee paid a reduced rate of National Insurance and instead receive a workplace pension meeting certain requirements.
Contracting-out ended when the new single-tier State Pension replaced the basic and additional State Pensions in April 2016 as there was no longer an additional State Pension to contract-out from.
A Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) is a minimum pension normally provided through a workplace pension scheme to people who contracted-out of the additional State Pension between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 1997.
Schemes providing GMP are required to annually increase GMP entitlement built up (accrued) between 6 April 1988 and 5 April 1997 in line with prices. This increase is capped at 3%.
The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2023 would specify that the minimum rate for GMPs is to be increased by the maximum amount permitted under the cap 3%. The increase in CPI for the appropriate review period is 10.1% (the 12 months to September 2022).
Someone’s GMP entitlement is deducted from the State Pension they receive. This calculation differs for the old and the new State Pensions:
In 2019, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published a report on its investigation of complaints by two individuals who said that the Department for Work and Pensions had failed to communicate that its State Pension reforms could have a negative long-term impact.
In response in August 2021, DWP published a factsheet on GMP and the effect of the new State Pension.
There are specific legislative requirements applying to public service pensions – which must be annually increased in line with prices – measured according to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).
Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) increases (294 KB , PDF)
This briefing paper details the support available to armed forces veterans in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A summary of the announcements in the 2023 Autumn Statement and an overview of the latest economic forecasts.
Ahead of the 2023 Autumn Statement on 22 November, this briefing looks at the UK’s economic situation, economic forecasts and the public finances.