Kit joins cross-party call to protect injured veterans’ compensation

Kit Malthouse MP has joined cross-party MPs in calling on the Chancellor to stop military compensation being counted as “income” when calculating eligibility for means-tested benefits. 

 Around 144,000 veterans and their families receive compensation to help cover the ongoing costs of an illness or injury sustained while serving their country.  

However, this compensation can be taken into account while calculating welfare entitlements, leaving recipients financially worse off.  

In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, MPs are calling for money awarded through the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation schemes to be disregarded from benefit means testing. 

 Kit said: 

"Men and women who have been injured serving our country should not be financially penalised for receiving the compensation they deserve. 

`"It’s ludicrous that military compensation can be treated as “income” when calculating benefits, while civil awards such as personal injury are typically exempt. 

"These payments are there to help veterans live with the lasting consequences of injuries and illnesses sustained in service. They shouldn’t be used as an excuse to reduce the financial support those veterans are entitled to. 

"The Chancellor has an opportunity in the Budget to put this right and make sure members of the armed forces community are treated fairly."