Baffled Veterans Call for Overhaul of Benefits System as Government Blocks Investigation

Both are run by Veterans UK, part of the Ministry of Defence.

Last month MPs won a debate Call for an enquiry into the AFCS and war pension schemes.

The debate was brought by SNP MP Owen Thompson, whose longtime constituent Garry McDermott has struggled for 10 years to get the right amount of war pension.

Thompson said the current system is a “national scandal that should make us all hang our heads in shame.”

But yesterday Secretary of Defense Leo Doherty said there would be no review.

In a written response to Owen Thompson, Doherty said: “There are no plans to investigate the process of war pensions or AFCS payments.

“The existing process remains effective, fit for purpose and functions satisfactorily.

“When issues are identified, the Department of Defense commits to addressing them and remedial action is taken quickly to ensure the process remains as efficient, transparent and emphatic as possible.”

Many veterans trying to access these payments say they have to wait a long time for their request to be heard, only to be denied or not receive enough money.

They then have to face lengthy and difficult battles to fight their case in court, which often fails.

Now veterans say they feel let down by the government’s decision and have started a petition to get a full investigation.

The petition states: “The ongoing misconduct and mistreatment of the military community is a well-documented fact. Veterans have stated that due to a lack of action and empathy from these authorities, they have had thoughts of self-harm and, in some cases, suicide.

“The system has to be completely revised from top to bottom. It has to be fair, open and transparent at every point.”

That Petition can be signed here .

McDermott, 47, a Royal Scots veteran, said: “I’m absolutely beside myself. The whole thing is a mess.

Ian Hewitt, 43, is a former RAF officer cadet who now gets an 80 per cent war pension but had to fight hard to get it – and was initially awarded between 6 and 14 per cent.

He said: “I’m amazed. They fundamentally didn’t understand what people are going through and the department marks their own homework.

“There’s also a lot of people out there who think if they complain or make a fuss they’ll be blacked out by Veterans UK.”

John Topping was until recently a member of the Veterans’ Advisory and Pensions Committee, a government-appointed but independent body dedicated to assisting veterans leaving the armed forces.

Topping said: “We need a high profile Rottweiler guy to push this and support us. This requires a request.”