Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers. A two-year project, working in partnership with the University of York, to examine the impact of the benefits system on veterans and their families.

Impact

This project has been particularly influential and was the first qualitative longitudinal study on veterans accessing the benefits system. The research provided new knowledge to several key stakeholders including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Ministry of Defence, the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee and Ministers on what was a previously hidden issue.

Since the project ended, the evidence, together with follow up meetings between the project team, FiMT and the DWP, has led to a significant increase in support for veterans who require help from the UK benefits systems. As a result of the research, the government announced an additional investment of up to £6 million for more than 100 Armed Forces Champion posts at the DWP which will be dedicated to supporting former service personnel and their spouses readjust into civilian life.

We continue to work with both the project team and the DWP to increase awareness of the research and to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.