Living overseas as a US veteran: A guide to VA disability, logistics, and support

For some US veterans, life after service may include moving abroad – whether to follow a partner’s posting, reconnect with ancestral roots, or to simply seek new adventures.

American veterans can find a mix of support in foreign countries (both formal and informal), but also a number of gaps and obstacles. In this blog, we'll go into what services are available for US veterans living overseas, how accessible they are, and some of the common challenges faced.

Note: In this blog we'll be focusing on Ireland and the UK, but there are many different countries that US veterans commonly move to – from the tropics of Costa Rica all the way to countries like Spain and Malaysia.

US veterans living overseas: The basics

When US veterans live abroad, they can still access certain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under the Foreign Medical Program, veterans with service-connected disabilities may receive covered medical care in their country of residence. The VA also maintains Overseas Military Services Coordinators (OMSCs), whose role includes helping transitioning service members and veterans abroad with VA benefits and navigating the VA system from abroad.

However, many benefits – especially non-disability programs – remain tied to U.S. residency, which complicates things for veterans living overseas. For example, VA home loans, certain pension programs, or some educational benefits may require US residence or specific conditions.

So, the experience of an American veteran in foreign lands is a hybrid: part US-based support, part integration into local systems, and part self-navigation through cross-jurisdictional bureaucracy.

Services and support for US veterans overseas

These can vary depending on what country you are living in (or plan to move to).  For example, these are what Ireland and the UK have available to help US veterans:

• US Embassy / Federal Benefits Unit in Dublin

  • In Ireland, the Dublin Federal Benefits Unit (FBU), part of the US Embassy, is the focal point for US federal benefits (including VA, Social Security, Office of Personnel Management, Railroad Retirement) for US veterans in Ireland. This means that US veterans in Ireland can contact the FBU for assistance or guidance with their American benefits while abroad.

• Educational Benefits & University Coordination

  • Some Irish universities coordinate with the VA or US federal aid systems. For instance, University College Dublin (UCD) provides information to help US veterans use their VA benefits when enrolling in UCD courses. That kind of bridging is important, though it often requires proactive advocacy.

• Homelessness, Veteran Charities & Local Veteran Organizations

  • While the principal veteran charity in Ireland is geared toward Irish Defence Forces veterans, it also sometimes supports non-Irish veterans. ONE (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, Ireland) provides advice, advocacy, and residential services for homeless veterans in Ireland. For non-Irish veterans who become homeless, this may be one of the few local safety nets.

• Gaps and Limitations

  • The FBU’s remit is limited – it cannot replicate all services available in the U.S.

  • Local healthcare systems (public/private) are Irish, and US veterans may not always be eligible for or familiar with them.

  • Navigating dual systems (US benefits + Irish supports) can lead to confusion, delays, and unclaimed entitlements.

  • Support services aimed specifically at US veterans in Ireland are quite limited, so most assistance is patchwork.

For American veterans in England (or elsewhere in the UK), the landscape is different in type and scale, but similar in complexity.

• Veterans UK & UK Government Supports

  • The UK government has a dedicated veterans support arm, sometimes under the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA). Their services are primarily intended for UK (or UK-service) veterans, but they may also touch non-UK veterans indirectly.

• Charities & Mental Health Services

  • Several charities focus on veteran mental health and wellbeing. Combat Stress, for instance, provides clinical and residential treatment in the UK for veterans suffering conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, and related disorders. While their core remit is British veterans, their services may sometimes be accessed by non-UK veterans, depending on circumstances.

  
  

  • Veteran advocacy groups (such as Royal British Legion, SSAFA, etc.) provide guidance, support, and community for ex-service personnel in the UK. Though their focus is often on British ex-forces, they may furnish information relevant to US veterans living in the UK.

• Social Welfare, Housing & Health

  • A recurring challenge for UK veterans is integration into the public health (NHS) and welfare systems. Many veterans report difficulty gaining priority access or continuity in care, particularly for service-related conditions like hearing loss, PTSD, or injuries.

• Homelessness among veterans is a well-recognised issue in England. Many veterans experience “hidden homelessness” (sofa-surfing, staying with friends or family temporarily) that does not get captured in official statistics.

• Veterans often run into challenges with benefits – navigating Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) systems and assessments, especially for those with service-related disabilities. Reports and advocacy groups have claimed that DWP staff sometimes lack understanding of conditions like PTSD during benefit assessments.

• Moreover, over half of England’s army veterans report having health conditions (mental or physical) since leaving service, and many are reluctant to seek help, either out of stigma or fear of not being understood by civilian healthcare providers.

Common challenges faced by American veterans abroad

Even with those supports, American veterans in Ireland or England face several systemic, practical, and personal challenges:

1. Jurisdictional and Eligibility Gaps

   1. Many US veteran benefits (education, pension, home loans) hinge on US residency or local presence, meaning that living abroad may disqualify or complicate claims. The VA Foreign Medical Program covers service-connected care, but general medical needs must often rely on local systems.

2. Complex Bureaucracy & Poor Signposting

   1. Navigating two countries’ systems (US + local) is inherently complex. The US FBU, VA, and OMSC may not always have up-to-date knowledge of local regulations in Ireland or England, and local agencies may not understand U.S. veterans’ benefits. Non-UK veterans report that policy transparency is limited. Many veterans – US or UK – say they did not even know what services existed or how to access them.

3. Healthcare and Mental Health Access

   1. Local health systems may not adequately treat conditions rooted in military service. Treatment continuity can suffer, especially when transferring or entering new health systems. Veteran status is not always recognised or prioritized, and waiting times are a barrier. In mental health especially, stigma and cultural norms in military backgrounds reduce help-seeking, meaning veterans may endure issues in silence.

4. Housing, Homelessness & Social Support

   1. Even for veterans who are UK or Irish nationals, homelessness is a noted problem. For American veterans abroad, housing stability can be elusive – few veteran-specific housing programs exist for non-citizens. For US veterans in England, they may not qualify for veteran-priority housing or benefits.

6. Employment, Recognition & Skills Translation

   1. Veterans may struggle to convert military skills or credentials to civilian roles in a new country. Employers abroad may not understand US military experience, and professional certifications may not transfer.

6. Cultural, Social & Identity Isolation

   1. Moving abroad can exacerbate the isolation many veterans already experience. American veterans may lack a veteran community, language of discourse (e.g. “veteran benefits” is a US term), or peer support networks in their locality. They may also feel cultural disconnection from local veteran services dominated by national (Irish or British) veteran communities.

7. Policy Ambiguities for Non-Nationals

   1. Particularly in the UK, veteran support policies are often centered on UK nationals or those who served in the UK armed forces. Non-nationals – including U.S. veterans living there – may exist in policy grey zones.

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