The Royal British Legion (RBL) commissioned RAND Europe to produce detailed forecasts of the support needs of the GB veteran community. The number of veterans, partners and children with a support need relating to poor health, disability and unpaid caring responsibilities is likely to decrease out to 2045. There will likely be shifts in the kind of support required as the average age of the community decreases.

Forecasting the support needs of the veteran community in Great Britain

Analysis of trends in general health, disability and caring responsibilities

Catherine Galley, Linda Slapakova

ResearchPublished Mar 23, 2026

There are approximately 1,700 Armed Forces charities across the UK who provide support to Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families. Out to 2045, various trends are expected to impact the level and nature of support need among veterans and the wider Armed Forces community. However, there is a need for more robust forecasting to help the sector better assess how the needs of the veteran community may evolve, and to ensure that policy, services and support remain fit for purpose in the decades ahead.

The Royal British Legion commissioned RAND Europe to produce detailed forecasts on the number of individuals within the Great British veteran community experiencing different support needs out to 2045. This report specifically forecasts the number of individuals within the community likely to experience poor health, disability and unpaid caring responsibilities. It also discusses the feasibility of forecasting other support needs within the veteran community.

Our research indicates that, assuming historical trends persist, the number of individuals within the veteran community requiring support for poor health, disability or unpaid caring responsibilities is expected to decline. This trend follows the declining size of the veteran community, predominantly due to a reduction in the number of veterans and partners aged over 80. However, the nature of support required will likely evolve. There may be a growing requirement for disability support for younger veterans and partners and those experiencing mental health-related disabilities, alongside a decreasing need for support for older veterans and partners experiencing age-related disability and poor health.

Key Findings

  • Approximately two-thirds of veterans and partners self-describe as being in good health, with higher levels of good health among younger veterans, and among partners of veterans.
  • Estimates for the proportion of veterans with a disability range from 32–44 per cent, with some differences across data sources. Levels of disability are slightly higher among veterans compared with civilians, even when controlling for age and gender. Higher levels of disability are reported by veterans living in Scotland and older veterans.
  • Approximately 11–14 per cent of veterans and 19 per cent of partners of veterans have unpaid caring responsibilities. The proportion of veterans and partners providing unpaid care is higher than in the general population, even when accounting for age and gender differences. This is particularly true among partners of veterans, among whom rates of caring responsibilities are significantly higher than civilians of the same age. Children of veterans also show higher levels of caring responsibilities than civilian children.
  • As the size and average age of the veteran community decreases, the number of individuals in poor health, with a disability and with unpaid caring responsibilities is likely to decrease. However, the types of support required is likely to change, with a reduced requirement for age-related care and increase in support for younger veterans and partners, including those experiencing mental health-related disabilities.

Topics

Document Details

  • Copyright: The Royal British Legion
  • Publisher: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 2026
  • Pages: 55
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA4506-3
  • Document Number: RR-A4506-3

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Galley, Catherine and Linda Slapakova, Forecasting the support needs of the veteran community in Great Britain: Analysis of trends in general health, disability and caring responsibilities. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2026. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4506-3.html.
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This research was prepared for the Royal British Legion and conducted by the Defence, Security and Justice Program within RAND Europe.

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