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File on 4: The Final Battle: Veterans fighting for compensation

25/06/2024

The Final Battle: Veterans fighting for compensation

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, The Final Battle: Veterans fighting for compensation

Veterans who have suffered injury from service can face years fighting for compensation.

File on 4 investigates a system which assesses and compensates veterans who have suffered injury or illness as a result of service.

There are two compensation schemes for veterans who’ve suffered injury or illness as a result of service - the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme - or AFCS - and the War Pension Scheme. The schemes are managed by Veterans UK which is an organisation run by the Ministry of Defence.

But veterans have long criticised both schemes. Some say they reject claims unfairly, and are slow to resolve them. File on 4 has been told in some cases it’s taken almost 12 years for a final decision to be made. How does the system work? And what is the impact on veterans who claim they have to fight for financial compensation for conditions they say are a result of their service?  File on 4 hears from one ex-servicemen whose claim took over seven years to resolve, and from the family of another former soldier who took his life after his claim for PTSD was repeatedly turned down.

If you are affected by anything in this programme, details of organisations offering support with mental health and self-harm, or feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Producer: Vicky Carter 
Reporter: Datshiane Navanayagam
Technical producer: Richard Hannaford
Production co-ordinator: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover
Editor: Carl Johnston

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