Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to take action to prevent injured veterans from losing out as a result of local authority social service departments treating War Pensions differently to awards under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Veterans who were injured in Service on or before 5 April 2005 receive a War Disablement Pension, and are known as War Pensioners. Should a War Pensioner have social care needs, they will routinely find that their local authority takes all but the first £10 per week of their military compensation to cover the costs of their care. This is despite the fact that a veteran with a similar injury, but who was injured on or after 6 April 2005 and therefore receives compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, is able to keep all of their compensation payments.

Darren, who is Chair of the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces in the Assembly, said:

“The Royal British Legion tell me that just two councils in Wales are treating people fairly which is outrageous.

“It is unfair that War Pensioners are treated differently to other injured veterans and the Welsh Government must take action to level the playing field. 

"It is also unacceptable that War Pensioners are treated less favourably than civilians who have been injured in the work place, who are able to place compensation awarded into a trust fund, which is exempt from means tests for social care. This  issue is clear breach of the Armed Forces Covenant, which states that Service personnel, veterans and their families should face no disadvantage as a result of Service.

“It is impossible to overstate the massive contribution that those serving in our armed forces make to keeping our nation safe, often at great personal risk, and for this they deserve the very best services and support. As Chair of the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces in the Assembly, I have long been highlighting the poor treatment of veterans and will continue calling on the Welsh Government to address this situation at the earliest opportunity.”