95% of veterans say Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is not run in their best interests, despite promised reforms

New research by Hilary Meredith Solicitors has raised serious concerns about how the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is operating in practice, despite repeated government assurances that it is being improved.

The findings point to widespread dissatisfaction with the way claims are handled by Veterans UK, with many veterans describing the process as adversarial, poorly communicated and failing to properly recognise the life-changing impact of service-related injuries.

A total of 142 veterans with completed or ongoing AFCS applications from the past two years participated in the study. The research sought to understand veterans’ lived experiences of the AFCS and to assess whether changes promised following the 2023 Quinquennial Review are being reflected in practice.

According to the findings:

• Seventy per cent felt their AFCS award failed to recognise the impact of their injuries on their life. This finding follows a Freedom of Information request by Hilary Meredith Solicitors last year, which revealed that between 6 April 2005 and 31 March 2024, just 11 individuals received the maximum level 1 award, which currently stands at £650,000

• Ninety-one per cent said Veterans UK failed to inform them that they could also pursue a civil claim alongside an AFCS claim

• Seventy-seven per cent of respondents said Veterans UK adopted an adversarial approach to their AFCS application

• Eighty-seven per cent said they were dissatisfied with the level of communication during the claims process

• Ninety-two per cent said claimants would benefit from independent legal advice when making an application

• Ninety-five per cent said the AFCS is not run in the best interests or needs of applicants

The findings come in the wake of the 2023 Quinquennial Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, which identified problems with communication, consistency,

transparency and claimant experience, particularly in more complex cases. While the Government accepted a number of recommendations aimed at improving delivery, the research suggests that many veterans do not yet feel those improvements have been realised.

Hilary Meredith-Beckham, founder and CEO of Hilary Meredith Solicitors, said the findings highlighted a concerning gap between policy commitments and veterans’ lived experience.

Hilary said:

“The Quinquennial Review clearly acknowledged serious shortcomings in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and veterans were given assurances that meaningful improvements would follow. This research suggests that, for many, those assurances have not yet translated into real change.

“This is supposed to be a no-fault scheme designed to support those injured as a result of service. Instead, far too many veterans experience it as adversarial, opaque and dismissive of the real impact their injuries have on their lives. That should concern anyone responsible for overseeing the scheme.”

Continued Hilary:

“It is no surprise that seventy per cent of veterans feel their Armed Forces Compensation Scheme award failed to recognise the true impact of their injuries on their lives. The reality is that life-changing injuries are being assessed within a system that rarely reflects their long-term consequences. When just 11 individuals have received the maximum award in nearly two decades, it reinforces the sense among veterans that the scheme does not fully acknowledge the severity of what they have endured.”

Hilary added:

“To compound matters, unlike civil claims, AFCS claimants who want independent medical opinions generally have to fund them personally. For those who cannot afford this, decisions are largely based on the medical evidence Veterans UK already holds or gathers during the claims process. It is my professional opinion that medical assessors engaged by Veterans UK may not always possess the specialist expertise required to assess some of the more complex and unique injuries arising from military service.”

The research also highlights a significant information gap, with the vast majority of respondents saying they were not informed that they could potentially pursue a civil claim alongside an AFCS application.

Hilary added:

“It is deeply concerning that ninety-one per cent of veterans say they were not informed by Veterans UK that they could pursue a civil claim alongside an AFCS application.

“Veterans are entitled to clear information about their options so they can make properly informed decisions about their futures.

“When that information is not provided, individuals risk missing out on rightful compensation and access to justice. For a system designed to support those who have served, this represents a serious failure of transparency. Incremental change is not enough - meaningful reform is urgently needed.”

Hilary Meredith Solicitors is calling for greater transparency, improved communication, and better access to independent advice, alongside a renewed focus on whether the scheme, as currently administered, is delivering on its stated purpose.