Families
Your family is important. Find out how we can support them, including your children's education, wherever your career takes you. Answer questions if you want to see what you may be entitled to
For our Service Personnel and their families
Whether you are looking for financial or emotional support, there are schemes and services available to you and your partner to help you with whatever your life plans are.
- No eligibility information available
Spouse/Partner Employment
Your spouse or partner - and in some instances dependent children - can get help to access employment or start a business
- No eligibility information available
Relationship Counselling
As a member of the Armed Forces you can get free access to relationship and family counselling
- No eligibility information available
Spouse/Partner National Insurance Credits
Your spouse or civil partner can use this benefit to make up for missed National Insurance payments when they accompany you overseas
- No eligibility information available
Additional benefits for non-UK family members
Find out about the additional benefits available to non-UK national family members of Armed Forces personnel
- No eligibility information available
Forces Help to Buy Scheme
Want to get your foot on the property ladder? You could borrow up to £25,000 interest-free with the Forces Help to Buy scheme.
- No eligibility information available
Service Accommodation
MOD provides good quality, subsidised living accommodation for Service people and their families
- No eligibility information available
Defence Discount Service
Defence Discount Service is the official Ministry of Defence discount service for the armed forces, veterans and wider armed forces community.
- No eligibility information available
HM Forces Railcard
The HM Forces Railcard will save you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Great Britain
Parenthood
We understand that introducing a new member to the family is a life-changing commitment. We want to help you by offering a number of different schemes, giving you time off work for both parents, ensuring you get Maternity Allowance even when you are not based in the UK and helping with the cost of childcare in term-time.
- No eligibility information available
Armed Forces Occupational Maternity Scheme
As a member of the Armed Forces you are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave and may be eligible for 39 weeks statutory maternity pay - this applies to servicewomen giving birth, and those adopting or entering a surrogacy arrangement.
- No eligibility information available
Ex-gratia payment in lieu of Maternity Allowance
If you can’t claim Maternity Allowance, you may be eligible for this allowance instead
- No eligibility information available
Time off for adoption and antenatal appointments
If you’re due to give birth or in the process of adopting, you can get paid time off for appointments
- No eligibility information available
Paternity Leave
You can take up to two weeks of paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child - in line with the statutory paternity leave provision.
- No eligibility information available
Shared Parental Leave
You can share maternity leave with your partner following the birth or adoption of a child - this is available to servicewomen giving birth, and those adopting or entering a surrogacy arrangement.
- No eligibility information available
Adoption Leave Scheme
If you adopt a child and are the primary adopter, you get 52 weeks adoption leave and may be eligible for 39 weeks statutory pay.
- No eligibility information available
Parental Leave
Allows 18 weeks of unpaid leave for each parent of each child and adopted child, up to the child’s 18th birthday.
- No eligibility information available
Wraparound Childcare
Get funding for the cost of up to 20 hours of before and after school care for your 4 to 11-year-old children (4-16 year old children if in receipt of certain disability allowances).
Education
We can help you with a number of expenses related to your child's education.
- No eligibility information available
Continuity of Education Allowance and Continuity of Education Allowance (Day)
Claim a contribution towards the cost of a fee-paying boarding school or fee-paying day school for your child/children
- No eligibility information available
Continuity of Education Allowances (Guardians)
If you place your children in the care of a guardian so that they can continue their education, you could get help with the cost
- No eligibility information available
Day School Allowance (North Wales)
If your duty station is in North Wales and you send your children to an English-language independent school, you could get help with tuition fees
- No eligibility information available
Bereavement Scholarship Scheme
If you die as a result of your Service duties, your children could be eligible for a scholarship
- No eligibility information available
Overseas education fees and expenses
Get reimbursement of fees for education provision and expenses when you are serving overseas in an area where there is no access to Defence Children Services schools and no suitable local school
- No eligibility information available
Overseas schooling
If your child accompanies you on an overseas tour, the MOD will provide for their education in a Defence Children Services school or nursery or, if one isn’t available, we will pay for them to be educated in a local school or nursery
- No eligibility information available
Overseas nursery authority
Get your childcare fees reimbursed when you are assigned overseas in an area where there are no MOD provided Defence Children Services (DCS) schools/settings.
- No eligibility information available
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Get your Universal Infant Free School Meals reimbursed when you are serving overseas in an area where you have to pay for meals at your children’s school or where MOD schools are unable to offer catering
Travel
We can help your family with travel when you are in the UK or overseas.
- No eligibility information available
Service Families Travel
If your immediate family have to travel to support your Service duties, you could get help with their travel costs
- No eligibility information available
Concessionary Travel for Immediate Families
When you’re deployed away from home, your spouse/civil partner and your children can get help with travel costs when they visit your close family, such as your parents or siblings
- No eligibility information available
Families Assistance for Visits Abroad
If you’re serving overseas you could claim financial assistance with food and accommodation costs when your immediate family comes to visit you
- No eligibility information available
School Children's Visits
School Children's Visits helps meet the cost of your children coming home during some school holidays.
Further Help
Armed Forces and RAF charities provide additional impartial support and independent advice to you and your family. Whether you need support with your finances, an overseas deployment, accommodation, relationships, or your health, they are ready to help.
- No eligibility information available
Charities
RAF and Armed Forces charities provide additional impartial support and independent advice to you and your family
- No eligibility information available
HIVE/RN Family and People Support
As MOD’s Tri-Service Information Service, the Army & RAF HIVEs and the Royal Navy Family & People Support team provide you with information on a wide range of subjects
- No eligibility information available
RAF Families Federation
The RAF Families Federation provides confidential and independent advice and support to RAF personnel and their families.
Government benefits calculator
You may also be entitled to a number of Government benefits. Click below to use the Government calculators and find out more
Government benefits calculator