Injured troops to receive higher payouts
After a public outcry, the Ministry of Defence will increase the amount of compensation claims given to soldiers who have received personal injury.
The statement was announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, who said that seriously injured servicemen will collect 30% more accident claim money. The amount of money for those troops suffering from mental illness will rise too.
There has been a huge amount of deaths and injuries in Afghanistan which has intensified over the last two years, and the MoD has come under much criticism due to a difficult system of ‘fixed tariff’ payouts, which many members of the public and charities have deemed to be inadequate. Therefore, the organisation has finally caved and agreed to change the award amount.
The modifications now mean that a private who has lost a leg will get £26,000 instead of £20,000. However, the amount does vary according to salary, injury and age.
The changes are unlikely to satisfy all servicemen but Douglas Young, of the British Armed Forces Federation, said: “These people are some of the most deserving in the country. Bob Ainsworth should be congratulated.”Updated on 08/02/2010