Legion victory: major improvements to AFCS announced
10 February 2010
Major improvements to the compensation scheme for injured Armed Forces personnel announced today come as a "welcome victory" for The Royal British Legion, said Director General Chris Simpkins.
"Two years ago, The Royal British Legion drew public attention to shortcomings in the compensation scheme with our Honour the Covenant campaign," Mr Simpkins said. "Today, we can declare a welcome victory in our campaign to make the scheme a more generous reflection of the nation's debt to our wounded heroes."
The changes announced today will be made retrospective to the introduction of the present compensation scheme five years ago. While it is not known how much more money will be available to the seriously wounded as a result, Mr Simpkins said the total is certain to amount to "tens of millions of pounds".
The recommendations for improvements in compensation are included in an MoD review into the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme chaired by Admiral the Lord Boyce. The Legion participated on an independent scrutiny group which presided over the review, also chaired by Lord Boyce.
"The Legion is very satisfied that the review carefully considered the positions of the Armed Forces charities and experts on the independent group," Mr Simpkins added. "This is reflected in its findings which, taken as a package, will lead to substantial improvements."
The recommended changes include improvements to many of the lump-sum payments made in compensation for pain and suffering, as well as to tax-free annual payments which are intended to compensate for lost income. Mr Simpkins said substantial gains were also achieved in the calculation of awards for multiple injuries from a single incident, many of which will be more than doubled.
"Given the frequency that we are seeing such injuries as the result of explosive devices used against our Armed Forces on operations in Afghanistan, this is a timely and necessary amendment," he added.
Previous changes to double the lump-sum payments for the most seriously injured have already resulted in more than £12 million additional compensation payments.
"None of this could have been achieved without the support of the British public, who shared our concerns over the financial payments made to our wounded personnel," said Mr Simpkins. "More than 25,000 responded to our campaign by contacting their MP by letter, telephone call, or personal visit. This was a tidal wave of support that the Government simply could not ignore."
The full MoD statement can be read here.
For further information please contact Robert Lee, Head of Media and Campaigns, at T: 0203 207 2235, M: 07798 654 071 or E: rlee@britishlegion.org.uk
