HEROES FOBBED OFF’ WITH £300

Scandal of war vets forced to grovel for payouts

THOUSANDS of battle-scarred war heroes have appealed against miserly compensation payouts as low as £300, it can be revealed.

MOD figures show at least 1,300 veterans and troops contested settlements in 2018-19. Another 8,000 had already appealed since a compensation system took effect in 2005.

The MOD has paid out more than 89,000 claims in that time – meaning one in 10 has gone to appeal. Many heroes took legal action and waited years for a revised payout.

They include veterans diagnosed with mental health conditions such as PTSD, as well as paralysis, limb amputation and blindness. Defence sources say the scheme is in chaos and that pending awards should be shelved while the system is reviewed.

The maximum award is £570,000, together with an indexlinked tax-free payment for life.

The sums depend on age, rank, length of service and severity of injury. But in civvy street compensation can run into the millions for similar or even lesser injuries.

Ex-colour Sgt Trevor Coult is among the veterans offered just £ 300. He was discharged from the Army five years ago after two tours of Afghanistan with the Royal Irish Regiment.

In 2006 he received the Military Cross after shooting dead a suicide bomber in Iraq.

Trevor, 44, said: “As far as my doctors are concerned I am still suffering with PTSD and probably will for the rest of my life.

“The MOD are claiming that I am fully recovered and are trying to fob me off with £300. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Personal injury lawyer Hilary Meredith said: “Offering £300 for PTSD is an outrage. The MOD needs to get its act together.”

The MOD said: “We take the wellbeing of those who have served extremely seriously, which is why we fund research to better understand and support personnel who experience PTSD. We carefully consider all claims.”