This updated piece preserves the original complaint that veterans must repeatedly prove their need for pension and care. It notes structural changes since 2005 (the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme), highlights the retraumatizing effect of repeated medical reviews, and calls for trauma-informed, transparent processes and stronger involvement of veterans' organizations.

A continuing fight after service

My husband served his country. Now he must also fight the government to keep the pension he was awarded. That feels wrong. Veterans and their families should not have to relive trauma to prove they remain disabled or ill.

Why reassessments hurt

Many veterans must attend periodic medical reassessments to keep entitlement to care or pension payments. These reviews can force them to retell traumatic events, reopen psychological wounds, and relive loss. The process can be as damaging as it is bureaucratic.

Since 2005 the UK replaced some older arrangements with the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) for service-related injury or illness after that date, while other legacy schemes remain for earlier service. Charities such as Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, and the Royal British Legion have long argued for better mental-health support and simpler claims processes.

The broader argument: respect and dignity

Many people accept the case that service members volunteered. But volunteering does not erase responsibility. The state asked people to risk their lives; society must honor that obligation by ensuring the process of receiving support does not add suffering.

A pension or compensation is not a luxury: it helps pay bills, supports families, and acknowledges harm. For many veterans the real cost is intangible - nightmares, loss of friends, and the daily labor of coping. Forcing repeated medical interrogations can feel like punishment rather than care.

What needs to change

  • Reduce unnecessary repetition in medical assessments and prioritize trauma-informed approaches.
  • Make mental-health support and benefits decisions more transparent and timelier.
  • Involve veterans' organizations in designing review processes so they are fairer and less retraumatizing.
These are practical steps, not excuses to end support. If the government chooses to deploy people into harm's way, it must accept the long-term duty to do right by them.

A personal plea

To those who argue veterans ''chose'' service: choice does not remove the duty of care. If my husband - and the many veterans like him - are worth anything, it is more than the small, bureaucratically-conditioned payments that sometimes feel like an afterthought. They deserve respect, dignity, and a system that helps rather than harms.
  1. Confirm current rules and typical frequency for medical reassessments under UK veterans' pension and compensation schemes (War Pensions Scheme, AFCS, and others).
  2. Verify whether the experience of reassessments described (e.g., every three years) reflects a standard policy or varies by case.
  3. Check up-to-date positions and campaigns from Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, and the Royal British Legion regarding reassessments and trauma-informed practices.

FAQs about Veterans Pensions

Do veterans still face periodic medical reassessments to keep pensions?
Many veterans report undergoing periodic reassessments or reviews to maintain eligibility for some benefits. The exact rules and frequency vary by scheme and individual circumstances, and critics say the process can be retraumatizing.
What changed in 2005?
In 2005 the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) was introduced for service-related injuries or illnesses that occurred after that date; older arrangements remain in place for earlier service records.
Which organizations campaign for veterans?
Charities such as Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, and the Royal British Legion advocate for better mental-health support, fairer claims processes, and improved services for veterans.
What reforms are being suggested?
Suggested reforms include reducing repetitive assessments, adopting trauma-informed review practices, improving transparency and timeliness in decisions, and involving veterans' groups in designing processes.

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