Financial help for veterans: Complete resource guide
You may know a veteran who’s struggling financially and you might want to help, but you’re not sure where to start. Taking that first step matters, and there are a number of options available if you want to help provide financial support. With an estimated 140,000 veterans in the Ireland, they are our family members, friends, colleagues ,and neighbours.
It’s never simple making the transition back to civilian life, especially when it comes to finances. Many veterans find themselves facing financial emergencies or financial pressure – and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
This guide offers several, practical options for those who want to offer financial help for ex-service men and women.
Understanding veteran financial challenges
Veterans often face financial difficulties when returning to civilian life. Many face service-related disabilities and ongoing medical costs, as well as mental health challenges including PTSD, depression and anxiety.
Some find they lack civilian job skills, leading to unemployment or low-paying/insecure jobs. This can lead to debt, homelessness and housing instability.
All of this makes finding steady civilian employment even more complicated, putting veterans in difficult financial positions that are hard to break out of without extra help. Some veterans may find it difficult to reach out, but these struggles are nothing to be ashamed of.
Personal fundraising can help address a wide range of needs, whether that’s raising funds for medical treatment or helping a veteran pay for school/upskilling so they can find better employment opportunities.
Key reasons to help veterans
- Elderly veterans and combat veterans who are disabled are especially vulnerable when it comes to financial stress.
- Thousands of veterans have additional medical needs
- Thousands of UK veterans are also homeless.
Irish veteran support organisations and charities
You can help Irish veterans by supporting Irish charities. There are quite a few resources dedicated to helping veterans, such as the following sources:
- Irish Defence Forces Veteran Support offers support and can help veterans find other organisations for their specific situation.
- Combat Stress offers help to veterans in-person, online and via phone call.
- Pieta House offers mental health support for veterans.
- The housing charity Shelter has specific advice and help for homeless veterans.
- O.N.E provides housing, community and guidance to veterans.
- Help for Heroes provides mental and physical health support as well as community spaces for veterans in Northern Ireland.
- ARCO focuses on pension-related issues, ensuring veterans and their spouses/families receive the ongoing support they need.
- Royal British Legion Ireland offers financial aid, including emergency and cost-of-living grants, as well as financial/employment advice and homelessness support.
- Togetherall offers mental health support that’s flexible, anonymous, and practical. Currently available to people aged 16-30 and students at publicly funded higher education institutions.
- IUNVA provides advice and assistance for Irish UN veterans. Their recently opened National Veterans Training Centre [1] in Dublin offers training, mental health courses and skills development for veterans.
Specific types of financial help for veterans
Different situations require different kinds of financial help. Debt help for veterans might look like extra funds or providing financial education and advocacy to help veterans reduce debt or interest rates. Help is available for free from services like the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
1. Financial help for veterans facing homelessness
Financial help for veterans facing homelessness may involve housing assistance, including accommodation and/or rental assistance. O.N.E offers housing support for veterans, with over 50 single bedrooms available at residential homes across the country. Personal fundraisers could be used to help cover housing costs or help cover transportation to charitable housing if necessary.
2. Financial help for veterans facing medical costs
Medical costs are often a significant financial burden for veterans. One way to access government help for veterans is through the PDForra Medical Assistance Scheme, which allows veterans to access healthcare in Northern Ireland for just €1.50 a week under the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme. This can help expedite treatment if there are long waiting lists.
Fundraisers can be very useful for covering emergency medical treatment or for helping veterans access more experimental treatments that may be more expensive or may not be covered by insurance.
3. Financial help for veterans facing unemployment
Many veterans struggle to transition back into the local workforce, which can have far-reaching impacts on their financial situation. There are many organisations such as O.N.E and Citizens Information Centres that can offer employment guidance and information about things like tax and pensions, and more.
4. Financial help for veterans facing family and relationship issues
The Defence Force’s Personnel Support Service has support officers and social workers who can assist with family and relationship issues, deployments, health concerns, including alcohol and mental health, as well as work and finance. They can also refer you to other services when appropriate.
5. Mental health support for veterans
Many veterans struggle with their mental health after returning to Ireland. Getting support may look like joining community groups and activities like those offered by Help for Heroes, or more targeted, one-on-one therapy and mentorship. Combat Stress offers intensive support for veterans facing PTSD and other military trauma.
6. Financial help for veterans facing family and relationship issues
The Defence Force’s Personnel Support Service has support officers and social workers who can assist with family and relationship issues, deployments, health concerns, including alcohol and mental health, as well as work and finance. They can also refer you to other services when appropriate.
7. Financial help for disabled veterans
Disabled veterans may have extra medical costs and more limited employment options. The Irish Defence Forces highlights a number of charities and organisations, including Headway, which supports people in Ireland facing head injuries, and the Irish Wheelchair Association, which offers training, community, and housing assistance for those with limited mobility. Broader services like Citizens Information may also be helpful for providing guidance and advocacy.
8. Debt help for veterans
All of these financial stressors put veterans at an increased risk for higher levels of debt, making it harder for them to reach financial stability. Debt help for veterans might look like extra funds or providing financial education and advocacy to help veterans reduce debt or interest rates. Help is available for free from services like the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
How to fundraise for a veteran or veteran cause
One way to show gratitude is by crowdfunding for veteran causes. You can raise funds to give directly to veterans or give the funds you raise to an existing organisation.
Even though there are government programmes and charities that provide financial help for veterans, you personally can make a positive impact too. If you know a veteran who is in need of financial assistance – whether they’re reaching out after a setback or because they’re reaching for a dream – you can start a crowdfunding fundraiser on their behalf. Or you can simply raise money for your favourite charity for veterans. Whichever you choose, here are a few simple steps to make it easier.
1. Decide who/what you’re fundraising for
Do you know an individual in need of assistance? Or will you fundraise for a veteran charity or cause? This will impact your goals and how you campaign.
2. Choose a fundraising platform
Choose a fundraising platform that allows you to raise money and share your campaign easily. GoFundMe makes it easy to raise money for other people as you can designate a beneficiary for your fundraiser.
3. Write a compelling story
Write about why you’re setting up this fundraiser. If it’s for an individual, help them tell their story, potentially including direct quotes. If you’re fundraising for a broader cause or charity, you might look to their website for stories about how veterans struggle and how the charity has made a positive impact on their lives. Or, you might have your own stories from friends, family or personal experience. If you need some tips, we’ve got some resources to help you craft a compelling story.
4. Set realistic goals
Set clear, realistic goals. If you’re hoping to raise a significant amount of money, consider breaking it up into milestones.
5. Share your campaign
Share your campaign online via social media/email and in-person at your local community centre, parish church or GAA. Some veteran organisations may also be willing to help boost your campaign.
6. Keep supporters updated
Keep supporters updated by celebrating donation milestones or posting more information about your campaign. If you end up going past your goal, let people know how the excess funds will be used and the impact they’ll have.
7. Appreciation and impact
Thank supporters during and after the campaign. If you’re fundraising for a charity, reinforce how the funds will be used. If you’re fundraising for an individual, you might continue to update supporters as the funds are used, if the recipient is comfortable.
Be of service to a veteran
Whether you decide to crowdfund for one of these organisations or raise funds directly for a veteran friend or family member, we’re here to help you provide emergency financial help for veterans. People use our crowdfunding platform to raise money for veterans every day.