Remembrance Day and support for veterans
Lest we forget – On Saturday, 11th November 2023, the nation commemorated Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day.
As the nation remembers those who lost their lives whilst serving, it is important that we also continue to do the work to support our veterans and service personnel leaving the forces and transitioning to civilian life.
In a recent article in the Times, our Head of Military Team and Partner, Ahmed Al-Nahhas commented that according to recent statistics, an overwhelming frustration from veterans was that the care and support vanishes once a service person has been injured and is medically discharged. This, combined with an inadequate statutory compensation scheme creates a bleak outlook for personnel leaving service.
Unfortunately, this is a story which we hear too often from our clients who have been injured during their service and medically discharged. It is important that veterans and service personnel are supported when they are injured, even when they are unable to continue serving for the country.
The Government is aware of the need to support veterans, who have protected our country, as the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan: 2022–2024 was set up. The plan details a host of strategy plans which are to be put in place for veterans over the next few years. These include tackling rough sleeping for Armed Forces, and developing clear pathways to support improved access to sexual assault referral centres for serving personnel and veterans. In addition, for next year the Government is set to launch a more sufficient Veterans UK portal, allowing access to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), War Pension Scheme (WPS), and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). This launch hopes to reduce the amount of time it takes to respond to veterans’ enquiries. If you are interested in learning what else the Government is planning to do to support veterans, click here for further information.
It will be interesting to see what plans and commitments the government has delivered upon as we near the end of 2023. The government will provide an update report in 2024 to see how far they have come in achieving the policy outcomes set out in the strategy, and what remains to be done to ensure veterans and service personnel are supported.
If you or a loved one has served in the British Armed Forces and have been injured, Bolt Burdon Kemp has a helpful webpage for when service personnel have been medically discharged and are transitioning into civilian life, including practical considerations such as relocating and finding a new home, finding a new job, settling children into a new school, and funding education.
Contact our dedicated military claims solicitors for further information to see whether we can help.
