Winging it might work on exercise. It doesn’t work in resettlement.
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When you’re in the final stretch of armed forces life, it’s easy to get distracted - finishing duties, sorting family logistics, wondering whether the MOD90 ID card will get you a discount on fish and chips (spoiler: probably not). But a few missed deadlines or overlooked tasks can turn your transition from the military community into civvy life into a logistical nightmare. 
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Here’s the stuff we see go wrong all the time, and how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

1. Forgetting to Download Your JPA Records

Once you're out, JPA access vanishes quicker than a mess bar tab on a Friday. With it goes all the paperwork you’ll suddenly need for a new job or even applying for your veteran benefits.

What to do instead:‍

Download everything while you still can, pay statements, service history, qualifications, performance reports, and pension forecasts. Stick them in secure cloud storage (with a backup). Future you, applying for jobs or even checking your military pension scheme details, will be grateful.

2. Missing the Housing Inspection Window

Leave SFA or SLA too late and you’re not just inviting chaos, you’re also risking a hefty bill. 

What to do instead:

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Mark your move-out dates now. Give 93 days’ notice. Take meter readings. Patch up the basics. Leave the place better than you found it.

3. Not Updating Your Contact Info in JPA

P45? Pension forms? Final payslip? If they’re sent to your old married quarters or your mum's house from 1998, you’re in for a world of admin pain.

What to do instead:

‍Triple-check your address, email, and mobile in JPA at least 6 weeks before discharge. If you’re between homes, use a trusted contact.

4. Leaving Pension Forms to the Last Minute

If you fancy chasing paperwork instead of starting your next chapter, be our guest. Otherwise, get your pension calculator out and get it sorted.

What to do instead:

‍Submit AFPS Form 12 (for your pension forecast) and Pen Form 1 (to claim it) a solid 8 weeks before discharge. Need a hand? Veterans UK and the Forces Pension Society know their stuff. It’s your money, don’t leave it to chance.

5. Assuming Your Benefits ‘Just Happen’

A depressingly common mistake. Bridging allowances, ELC credits, resettlement grants... They don't appear by magic. Even if you’ve served your time honourably in the armed forces, you’ve still got forms to fill.

What to do instead:

‍Talk to your resettlement officer or welfare team now. Understand what you’re entitled to and how to claim it. Whether it’s financial help for veterans or veterans welfare service support, you have to ask for it.

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Final Thought: Plan Now, Stress Less

Resettlement isn’t just about throwing your beret on a bonfire and hoping for the best. A bit of forward planning can save you months of hassle, missed opportunities for jobs for ex-soldiers UK, and a world of paperwork-related rage.

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If you're feeling overwhelmed? You’re not the only one. That’s exactly why we built the No-BS Resettlement Guide.

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It covers all the essential steps, including the boring but critical stuff like pensions, armed forces identity card admin, and how to prepare for the parts of civilian life you didn’t see coming. 

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We leverage AI to make career resettlement simple, transparent, and tailored to you. Our AI-powered tools help to match you with careers based on more than your rank or role, analyse your skills to highlight civilian job matches you may not have considered, and provide step-by-step guidance so your transition isn’t a guessing game.

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So why not try it?

Click here to start.

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