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.
She branded the move “shameful” and said soldiers, veterans and their families could now face months of hardship.
Ms Meredith, who specialises in military claims, said: “Our firm recently won an appeal for a veteran with non-freezing cold injury in all four limbs.
“He was awarded a substantial sum plus a tax free, index-linked monthly payment. The appeal was successful on March 18, 2020.
“Our client is unable to work having been medically discharged from the army. He cannot leave the house. He has a wife who works on the front line for the NHS and three children.
“With no money, he is struggling to pay his bills while his mental health is deteriorating.
“Veterans UK is not denying the validity of this, or other, awards. It is simply refusing to process any new payments.”
The MoD stressed it was not stopping existing payments but admitted delays were inevitable for new claims. It also said that thousands of former troops had received help from its advisers in the last month.
Veterans UK added: “We are working hard to deliver vital welfare services and all 470,000 pension and compensation payments we make each month.
“Given that some records go back to the Second World War, there will be delays to new claims, which can only be processed on paper.”
