A new Ministry of Defence scheme to transform
support for Armed Forces families with young children will be rolled out across
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from September 2026, the Defence Secretary
has announced on 20 March 2026.
This major boost could save
eligible Armed Forces families up to £6,000 per year for each child, depending
on where you are in the UK.
Defence is committed to supporting
Armed Forces families, wherever you live and work. This scheme will help with
the cost of living and navigating life as a family in the Armed
Forces, recognising the demands placed on Service personnel and the
critical roles families play in support of them.
Hundreds of families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected
to be eligible for the scheme.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:
"Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our
nation's security. With demands on defence rising, from the conflict in the
Middle East to growing Russian aggression, we are asking more of our military,
and it is right that we continue to step up our support for them.
“This transformative offer will ensure more military
families get the childcare support they need, no matter where they are posted.
"We are making good on our promise to Armed
Forces families - supporting them as they support our dedicated military
personnel defending the UK and our allies. Our message to the Armed Forces
community is clear: this government is on your side."
About the scheme
Who is eligible for the scheme?
From September 2026, this new
scheme will be rolled out to UK working Armed Forces families – in Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland – with children aged between:
-
9 months until they reach 3 years old in
Scotland and Wales, or
-
9 months to 4 years old in Northern Ireland.
Where a Serving parent is
assigned to a non-UK location, but the family is located in Scotland, Wales or
Northern Ireland, you will be eligible as long as you meet the other
eligibility criteria.
How will the scheme work?
The scheme will be delivered
through Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement scheme and will
ensure that eligible working UK Armed Forces families receive the same
Government funded childcare support as Armed Forces families in England.
If you and your Serving partner
are employed and meet the income thresholds required to access an active
Tax-Free Childcare account, this scheme could save your family thousands.
What next?
This scheme will be rolled out
from September 2026, giving you more time to prepare and explore suitable
childcare options.
Defence will continue to work
closely with the devolved governments, and further details will be set out in
the coming month.
Empowering Armed Forces families
Defence remains committed to listening
to the voices of those in the Armed Forces community. With childcare being
cited as one of several factors affecting Armed Forces retention and morale,
this new scheme supports this government’s mission to fix the recruitment
crisis and improve lived experiences.
Wider support that Defence has
delivered for Armed Forces families since July 2024 include:
·
A
new housing strategy, which allocates £9bn to improve over 40,000 military
homes.
·
Awarding Service personnel with the biggest
pay rise in 20 years.
·
Bringing the Armed Forces Covenant into law
through the Armed
Forces Bill, introduced this year. This will ensure that all government
departments place the Armed Forces community at the heart of government
decision-making.
·
Setting up a Families
Hub to help people make informed choices about navigating family life in
the Armed Forces.