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What Everyone in the Armed Forces Community Should Check Before January 2026

Created on 18 Dec 2025

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Updated on 18 Dec 2025

January is when bills rise, admin catches up, and small oversights turn into months of hassle.
This checklist helps you check the essentials before the year starts, so you go into January feeling clearer and more in control.

Short on time? Start here:

  • Money feeling tight or uncertain? → Start with the money reset
  • Work or training might change in 2025? → Jump to employment & skills
  • December took a toll on your energy or mood? → Go to mental health
  • Recent move, posting, or housing worries? → Check housing & cost of living

military credit checks

The 30-Minute Money Check (Do This First)

If you do nothing else before January, do this.

A quick money reset now can prevent months of stress later. Military life often brings a fixed income and sudden costs (such as moves, deployments, and transitions). January bill shock hits harder when flexibility is limited.

Check the following now:

  • Upcoming energy direct debit changes
  • Rent, mortgage or SFA housing charges
  • Credit cards and outstanding balances

Check eligibility for:

  • Council Tax Reduction
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit (for older veterans)

Renew or activate:

Check what money support you’re eligible for this week on Troopr

Employment & Training: Decide Your Lane Before January

January is one of the biggest hiring and upskilling months of the year. You don’t need a full career plan. You do need to know which lane you’re in.

If you’re a Service leaver or veteran jobseeker:

If you’re staying in your current role:

  • Prepare to ask about training budgets or qualifications
  • Check military spouse, flexible working or reservist policies.
  • Find out if your organisation has an Armed Forces Champion or Armed Forces ERG you can get involved with.

If you’re a military spouse or partner:

  • Prioritise remote or portable roles
  • Check skills bootcamps or return-to-work schemes
  • Look for employers with proven Forces-friendly policies

See Forces-friendly employers hiring in January on Troopr

Mental Health Reset

If December knocked your energy, mood or motivation, start small.

You don’t need a drastic wellness plan! Simple reset practices that work:

  • One daily non-negotiable walk
  • A fixed digital switch-off time
  • Weekly “no admin evening”
  • Regular check-ins with loved ones

If December stirred anything heavy, loneliness, grief, or burnout, remember there is support round the clock throughout the festive period and beyond:

  • Combat Stress Helpline: Provides confidential 24/7 advice and support for veterans and their families. (Call 0800 138 1619)
  • Samaritans: Confidential emotional support for anyone in distress (Call 116 123).
  • Shout: Free, confidential text service for immediate crisis support (Text "SHOUT" to 85258).
  • NHS Mental Health Crisis Support: Call 111, option 2, for connection to a mental health professional.

Find mental health support you can access right now on Troopr → Mental Health Resources

military family in service accomodation

Energy, Housing & Cost-of-Living Checks

Essential for serving families, recent movers, and anyone on a tight budget. 

This is a must-do for every Forces household.

Energy

  1. Submit a meter reading
  2. Check eligibility for Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments
  3. Ask your supplier “Do you offer Armed Forces discounts?" and “Are there flexible payment options for military households?”

Read next Stay Cosy This Winter: Support and Savings for Armed Forces Families 

Housing

For SFA: Log any repairs before January contractor backlogs

For private rental:

  • Check notice periods
  • Review energy performance rating
  • Confirm council tax band

If you’re a veteran at housing risk

Immediate support exists through: Royal British Legion | SSAFA | Stoll

Housing Support for the Armed Forces Community 

Education Funding & School Support for Military Children

Relevant if you have school-age children, teens in exam years, or students in higher education.

Before January, check:

  • Service Pupil Premium / Pupil Premium eligibility
  • Boarding school allowance support
  • University bursaries for veterans’ children
  • Wraparound childcare or relocation grants

If there’s a deadline, check it now.

military life separation

Resetting Family Life After Deployment or Separation

If your household is adjusting after time apart or a major change.

January often brings homecomings and the rebuilding of routines for Forces families. What helps most during this transition is keeping expectations low for the first four to six weeks, avoiding the pressure to “make up for lost time,” and allowing family roles to rebalance naturally.

Friction is part of reintegration, so it’s important to expect it, protect a couple time without forcing it, and remember that while Forces families are elite adapters, adaptation still costs energy.

If family life begins to feel strained, support is available through SSAFA, Relate, local Armed Forces family hubs, and welfare officers.

How Troopr Can Help You Start 2026 with Confidence

Troopr brings Forces-friendly employers, verified money and housing support, mental health resources, education guidance and community support into one trusted place.

If you don’t want to search ten different sites in January, this keeps things simpler.

Explore Forces-friendly support, jobs, money guidance and wellbeing resources on Troopr