Children of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel fall outside some Armed Forces family support schemes because RFA crews are civilian seafarers employed by the Ministry of Defence and not members of the Armed Forces, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, asked for the reasons why the children of RFA personnel are not eligible.
Calvin Bailey, the Minister for Veterans and People, replied: “Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel are civilian seafarers employed by the Ministry of Defence and are not members of the Armed Forces. Consequently, eligibility for some schemes specifically designed for Service personnel and their families does not extend to RFA families. They do, however, have access to a range of welfare and family support, and the Department continues to review these arrangements to ensure they meet the needs of the RFA workforce.”
Gilmour asked last month whether schemes including Service Pupil Premium funding and wraparound childcare would be extended to RFA families. Bailey said then that support arrangements were kept under review, and listed existing support including enhanced leave, Occupational Health, the Employee Assistance Programme, Family and People Services and the Navy Families Federation.
Government guidance says children with parents in the RFA do not qualify for Service Pupil Premium, which pays schools £360 for each service child in the 2026 to 2027 financial year, because the RFA is a civilian-manned organisation.
The RFA employs about 1,800 people, and its crews accepted a new pay deal in July worth 4.5 per cent backdated to 1 April 2025 and a further 3.6 per cent from 1 April 2026, alongside changes to leave and a £250 one-off payment. The Ministry of Defence said the deal supports recruitment and retention, including crewing the Fleet Solid Support ships.
