The act defines relevant family members as:
Partners
This comprises the current and former spouses and civil partners of Service members, and any person whose relationship with a Service member is or was formerly ‘akin to a relationship between spouses or civil partners’, such as a cohabiting couple in a committed relationship.
It should be remembered that Service members might be required to live away from their partner on posting or deployment for a considerable period, but this should not be taken as affecting whether they are in such a relationship.
This group includes former partners as they can continue to be impacted by Service life following a break-up from a Service member, particularly if they have children together. Including former partners ensures they can receive appropriate consideration as they become independent of the Service member, for example, to take account of the former partner’s first re-location after the end of the relationship.
Children
This comprises children (including adopted children) under the age of 18 who are children of Service members or Service partners, and any other children under the age of 18 that are otherwise the responsibility of Service members or Service partners.
A child is the responsibility of a Service member or Service partner if the Service member or Service partner has parental responsibility for the child, if the child is wholly or mainly financially dependent on the Service member or Service partner, or if the child is someone for whom the Service member or Service partner has assumed regular and substantial caring responsibilities (such as a foster child).
This Guidance uses the term ‘Service children’ for this group.
Relatives
This comprises the relatives (including through adoption) of Service members or Service partners that are:
- living in the same household as the Service member. Service members might be required to temporarily live elsewhere, either for a set period of time or during the working week, due to postings or deployments (see section 1G). In such cases, where the relative would otherwise be living with the Service member (but for the fact the Service member is away for Service reasons) they are still to be considered a member of the Service member’s household; or
- wholly or mainly financially dependent on the Service member or Service partner; or
- someone for whom the Service member or Service partner has assumed regular and substantial caring responsibilities, such as those with additional needs who may be otherwise unable to care for themselves.
The term ‘relative’ means:
- a parent, step-parent, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, grandparent, step grandparent, great-grandparent, step-great-grandparent, grandchild, step grandchild, great-grandchild or step-great-grandchild;
- the brother, sister, uncle, great-uncle, aunt, great-aunt, niece, great-niece, nephew, great-nephew or first cousin (whether of the full blood or of the half blood or by marriage or civil partnership);
- any person aged 18 or over who was the responsibility of the Service member or Service partner as a child. Being the responsibility of a Service member or Service partner has the same meaning as in the ‘Children’ category above. This ensures this group will continue to be relevant family members when they are adults where there is a level of dependency.
Bereaved family members
When a Service member is deceased, this comprises any person who was a relevant family member under one of the above categories immediately before the Service member’s death.
We are able to consider wider groups, that is, Merchant Navy if individual circumstances merit, but the Armed Forces Covenant only covers the above. Cadets and adult volunteers in the Cadets are not part of the Armed Forces Covenant.