Anger as hero troops relying on benefits to make ends meet soars 30% in a year

15 July 2023 , 18:26

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Former soldier Alan Forcer took his own life in 2020 (Image: ©2021 Steve Bainbridge)

Thousands of members of the armed forces are having to claim benefits to make ends meet.

Some 3,900 relied on Universal Credit in May – and the number on handouts has soared by 30% in a year.

The Department for Work and Pensions admitted the true figures may be much higher because the data only reflected 64% of claimants and excluded Northern Ireland.

The figures, released in response to a parliamentary question, were blasted by Labour and the Lib Dems.

Shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: “Personnel should not be forced to rely on benefits to pay the bills, or food banks to feed families.”

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Shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard (Matt Gilley/PlymouthLive)

Lib Dem defence spokesperson Richard Foord said it was “shameful”, adding: “The Ministry of Defence should open an urgent investigation.”

Personnel started on £21,425 before last week’s 5% pay rise, while trainees get £18,687. Veterans minister and ex-Army captain Johnny Mercer has sparked outrage by claiming food bank users do so based on “personal decisions around how people are budgeting every month”.

Meanwhile, the number of veterans on benefits is also rising, with at least 51,000 on Universal Credit. Alan Forcer, a former lance corporal with the Coldstream Guards of Hartlepool, Co Durham, relied on benefits and took his life in 2020, aged 40. He had mental health woes after serving in the Balkans and his ex-wife claims lack of financial support was also a factor.

Claire, 47, said: “Alan felt inadequate because he wasn’t well enough to work and his benefits didn’t cover anything outside the basics. There are many in similar situations and sadly, like Alan, succumb to the darkest deaths due to of a lack of support across the board.

“I believe in part the struggle to get the financial support he deserved impacted his mental health further.”

The Royal British Legion’s Angela Kitching added: “Our research found one in 11 veterans and their families – an estimated 200,000 veterans – have experienced some kind of financial difficulty after leaving service life.”

The MoD said: “Any working person who qualifies for Universal Credit is eligible to claim it. Our armed forces are supported by a package of measures, including the latest pay award of 5% plus a £1,000 consolidated pay-ment, free wrap-around childcare and daily food charges and families accommodation costs have also been frozen.”

John Siddle