Military compensation claims up 20pc as MoD pays out £160m

DEFENCE chiefs paid out more than £160million in compensation to troops and members of the public last year – a rise of almost 20 per cent.

Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show that the number of common law claims being brought against the department have risen every year since 2018. Six years ago the MoD received 4,500 claims and paid out £131million. But in 2023, 6,897 claims had been submitted. The largest payout last year was £12 million paid to a member of the Armed Forces for a medical negligence case.

Non-freezing cold injuries, like trench foot and noise-related injuries are two of the claims categories. Most cases are due to training failures or a lack of protective equipment.

In the last 10 years, cold injuries – costing £160 million – have become so common some legal firms now specialise.

In 2018, a soldier was awarded £800,000 after getting cold feet during a military exercise. But other veterans have had claims dismissed and been accused of fake injuries.

Former Army L/Cpl Michael Mantey, 39 sued the MoD for £1.6 million after a trench foot injury. But he was ordered to pay £70,000 after he was filmed with no walking stick and wearing sandals.

In January, The Telegraph revealed the MoDe used private investigators to spy on over 500 serving and former service personnel claiming compensation.

The increasing rise in fraudulent compensation claims is forcing its hand, the MoD said.

In 2023, 41 per cent of the 4,317 claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme were rejected. Of the payouts made, 180 were for damage to buildings and livestock caused by RAF aircraft.

In 2013, £2,000 was awarded after a pet parrot died after an RAF jet flew over a house. And £79,000 was paid to an East Sussex farmer who claimed panicked chickens trampled each other to death because of a Chinook helicopter.

Bullying, harassment and discrimination compensation payments have doubled over the past four years.

In November last year, 60 senior civilian women described the MoD’s working environment as “toxic”.

Referring to the bullying accounts, Robert Courts, he Tory chair of the defence committee said the MoD should explain why compensation payments had soared. He said: “[The} MoD ought to explain what lies behind the increase in payments in order to reassure serving personnel and the public.”

An MoD spokesman said: “Our people are our greatest asset and we are committed to protecting their health and wellbeing.”