Personnel with two to five years’ service can claim financial help to cover the cost of going home for Christmas to see friends and family.
The Travel Credit Scheme is open to eligible regulars, mobilised reservists and full-time reservists for one return road or rail journey that starts between 8 December and 31 March, 2026.
Claims can be submitted until the end of next April.
It extends the existing Get You Home (Early Years) provision and is intended to ensure those on duty over the festive season can still access support when they need it.
Many personnel already qualify for help with travel costs but it’s not currently available to those covered by the new initiative.
Those in the early years of their Service are most likely to be separated from family and friends because of Service life. The scheme also covers those separated from their non-resident children who are recorded on JPA.
To be eligible for help under the Travel Credit Scheme you must:
- be assigned to the UK;
- have booked your leave for the period of your absence, including travelling time;
- have booked your travel as a return journey.
You are not eligible if you are able to claim any other publicly funded travel, including Get You Home, Overseas, Early Years, Home to Duty travel or if you have an agreed remote working arrangement.
Contact your unit HR team for more information about eligibility and making a claim.