Campaigning for an end to the unjust benefits system.
The Royal British Legion’s ‘Credit their Service’ campaign demands an end to the unjust treatment of military compensation as income by welfare benefit means tests. This results in veterans and their families missing out on thousands of pounds a year.
150,000 veterans and their families receive compensation awarded by the government for the pain and loss they endured while in the Armed Forces. This compensation is unfairly counted as normal income when applying for many welfare benefits. It is a glaring disadvantage because civil compensation awarded by courts, such as for personal injury or medical negligence, is exempt. Military and civilian compensation should be treated the same.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit offers a lifeline for those over State Pension Age. It is paid to those on low income, below the amount the UK Government says a person needs to live on.
One million UK veterans were over 65 in the 2021 Census, with an estimated 146,000 eligible for Pension Credit. By treating military compensation as income, some of our poorest veterans and their families are denied Pension Credit. They are missing out on thousands of pounds of support that civilians can access.
Local Benefits
This problem includes benefits paid out by local councils. This includes:
- Housing Benefit, for help with the cost of rent
- Council Tax Support, for a reduction in Council Tax payments
- Discretionary Housing Payments, for help with housing costs
- Disabled Facilities Grants, for helping making changes to a home
RBL estimates that over 10,000 local benefits awards per year involve military compensation. When surveyed in late 2022, four in five (80%) British councils unfairly treated this as income. In recent years, RBL has worked with over 30 councils to ensure they no longer treat military compensation as income in their means-tested benefits.
Explore Council Map
The interactive map below shows how councils in England are treating military compensation. This is based on Freedom of Information responses received, and recent progress made in our campaign.
To find out how your council is treating military compensation in your area please hover over a location on the map or use the "Council Search" box.
Legend:
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Council disregards the military compensation |
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Council does not disregard the military compensation |
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Not applicable *
Examples include the council does not have a policy for that benefit or they don't administer it.
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We are grateful to the councils which already do not treat military compensation as income in means tests. If your council is still treating some military compensation as income, please contact us and we will work with you to address this.
To contact us, please email [email protected]
In 2011, the UK pledged the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a promise which states that those who serve or have served should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens. The Royal British Legion believes that any treatment of military compensation
as income breaks this promise.
We call on councils to use their powers and do the right thing. Councils should make sure they do not treat compensation as income.
We urge the UK Government to change the law. It should act to ensure military compensation is not counted as income by means tests.