Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency was officially launched on 2 April 2007 by the UK Ministry of Defence. SPVA aims to improve personnel, pensions, welfare and support services to members of the UK Armed Forces and veterans and their dependents.

The Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) was merged with the Veterans Agency to form the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

The formation of SPVA will gradually lead to the provision of a fully integrated set of ‘through life’ personnel services to the serving and veterans community - where a single contact with the Agency will grant access to customer information and advice on pay, pensions, compensation payments, records of service and medal entitlement.

The responsibility for all pension provision, whether a War pension or an Armed Forces pension now falls under the direct control of SPVA, reducing the risk of omitting or duplicating information and providing a truly joined up pension service.

The SPVA operates from four sites: Glasgow (Kentigern House), Gloucester (Imjin Barracks), Gosport (Centurion Building) and Norcross (Blackpool)

Strategic Intent
Dynamic delivery of high quality, comprehensive and responsive through-life personnel services to the serving and veterans' communities.

Mission
Deliver reliable, trusted and efficient personnel services to the serving and veterans' communities.

Functions
JPA

The Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system rolled-out to the RAF on 20th March 2006, the RN in Oct 2006 and the Army in March 2007. JPA involves new, modern personnel administrative processes, based on harmonised policy and regulations. It has been delivered using a commercial software package and is accessible to all service personnel via Defence Information Infrastructure (DII). Individuals have access and responsibility for the upkeep of their own information and can make expenses and allowance claims on-line, via the self service facility. JPA has enabled around 1,400 Armed Forces personnel to be removed from administrative posts. As a consequence, some £100m per year of savings will be generated in the steady state.

AFCS

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a new package for members of the Armed Forces. It is designed to provide compensation, irrespective of fault, across the full range of circumstances in which illness, injury or death may arise as a result of service. AFCS replaced the previous arrangements under the War Pensions Scheme and the attributable elements of AFPS 1975.The Scheme covers all Regular and Reserve personnel whose injury, ill health or death is caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. For the first time compensation claims from serving personnel can be considered. Tax free lump sum awards, up to £570,000, for injury can be paid in service, with an additional Guaranteed Income monthly payment, available for the most seriously injured, on leaving the Armed Forces.

Pensions

The Agency is responsible for the assessment ,award, payment and maintenance of all pensions relating to service in the Armed Forces. This includes the Armed Forces Pension Schemes, Reserve Forces Pension Scheme and, for those disabled or bereaved through Service, War disablement pensions, related allowances and other payments to Veterans.

JCCC

The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) provides a 24/7 service to members of the Armed Forces and has built up an enviable reputation for service excellence. Handling over 86,000 telephone calls a year, it co-ordinates all work relating to current military fatalities, injuries and compassionate cases, including family liaison and repatriation. JCCC also co-ordinates investigations following the discovery of human remains of personnel from primarily the First and Second World Wars.

Medals

The MOD Medal Office is responsible for the assessment, engraving and awarding of circa 70,000 current campaign and historic medals a year to past and present members of the Armed Forces. Medals relating to Service dating back as far as World War II can still be claimed. Around 200 such applications per week are received.

Veterans Badges

In addition, the Agency continues to administer the distribution of the extremely popular HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge, with over 700,000 distributed to date.

Veterans Support

The SPVA’s Veterans Services Directorate provides support to anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces, even just for a day. This includes a free Veterans-UK helpline – 0800 169 2277 and website – www.veterans-uk.info, providing advice on benefits, compensation payments, pensions, employment and much more. For those with more specific needs, the Veterans Welfare Service provides one to one advice and support, in the home if needed, from 25 offices across the UK. Some 13,000 home visits are made each year. SPVA also manages the Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH) near Newton Abbot, Devon. The home provides residential and nursing care for former members of the Polish forces who served under British command during WWII in accordance with the Polish Resettlement Act 1947. The home is managed by SPVA.