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 20 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 .