Hard-up war veterans awaiting compensation for injuries and trauma may have to wait months for their money. Serving and former personnel have been told payouts will be severely delayed because of the Covid crisis.
Victims include those injured in action or during training, and ex-soldiers with mental health problems like PTSD. The Ministry of Defence has told their lawyers it cannot process any new claims, reviews or appeals.
It blames staffing issues caused by coronavirus and has also shut down a veterans’ helpline. Personal injury lawyer Hilary Meredith said Veterans UK – part of the MoD – had even refused to pay up in cases where appeals had already been decided.