Charity battles ‘unfair’ cuts to veterans’ benefits

A CHARITY has called for action to stop injured veterans’ benefits being cut as it launched its first manifesto.

Poppyscotland is campaigning for improvements to the support available for the armed forces community.

At present, veterans’ social security benefits can be reduced because compensation for injury and illness sustained during service is treated as income. This can see some receive lower benefit payments than non-veterans, effectively disadvantaging them because of their disability.

Poppyscotland wants the next Scottish Government to exempt military compensation from assessments for social security benefits, ending an ‘unfair anomaly’.

The charity’s chief executive, Mark Collins, said: ‘Too often, veterans and their families face disadvantage and barriers.

‘Changes to the social security system to address the unfair treatment of military compensation is an important start.

‘But our research has also highlighted that many veterans and their families who apply for social housing struggle to navigate their way through the complex process. Poppyscotland is therefore calling for the establishment of a veterans’ housing action group with powers to review challenging cases.’

Other recommendations include improving the quality of physical and mental health support available to veterans.

Mr Collins added: ‘This manifesto sets out what we believe should be priorities for the next Scottish Government to improve the lives of our armed forces community.’