Badly injured troops will get sharp increases in their compensation payments within the next few days, the government has announced.
All injured personnel who have received an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme since 2005 will be awarded an increase of between 10% and 100% of their payments. About £10m will be paid out to 2,700 troops who have been awarded lump-sum payments under the scheme.
The maximum compensation for armed forces personnel injured in service is now at £570,000, not £285,000 as previously awarded. This is on top of a tax-free, index-linked monthly payment for seriously injured soldiers, for the rest of their lives after leaving the armed forces.
A 19-year-old seriously injured soldier could receive more than £1 million over the course of his life under the new system.
Defence minister Kevan Jones said: “Our armed forces are inspirational and they deserve the very best support – that is why I am determined to see through the package of measures we announced in the Service Personnel Command paper. This increase in our compensation package will be a great boost to our injured personnel and their families.”
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Letters are being sent to the 140 most seriously injured with details of their increased compensation payments, which they will get by Christmas. Those less seriously injured will receive their extra compensation over the next few months.
Chris Simpkins, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: “It is particularly good news coming just before Christmas and will be a welcome boost for all those who have been injured.”
