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Work related accidents, youclaim.co.uk

Official compensation scheme for Service men and women making military claims

When men and women join the Armed Forces they expect an element of danger in their working lives but they also expect a duty of care by their senior officers and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to protect them from unnecessary harm which could result in a personal injury and subsequently lead them to making military claims.

Although active duties are the most risky part of their time in the Army, Royal Navy or RAF, incidents during training and off-duty while on MOD property can also end in unexpected injury or even death.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is for all members of the regular and reserve Forces and provides compensation for all injuries, ill-health and deaths which are mainly due to service, the main cause of which occurred on or after the introduction of the scheme on 6 April 2005.

Full information about the scheme is available on a section of the Ministry of Defence website.

Some of its major points can be summarised as follows:


  • It provides a tariff-based lump sum award for pain and suffering for significant qualifying injuries and illnesses, which takes into account the expected level of deterioration. Larger payments will go to the more seriously disabled. The tariff has 15 levels of award, which will be reviewed periodically

  • It also offers a tax-free guaranteed income payment for life for those at the higher levels of the tariff (1-11) to compensate for loss of earnings capacity

  • Dependants. For an attributable death, a taxable survivor's guaranteed income payment will be awarded. There will also be a child's payment

  • In-Service lump sum awards for injury will be paid for pain and suffering, including for injuries arising from warlike acts and terrorism

  • The scheme is run by Service Personnel & Veterans Agency (SPVA) administrators with access to specialist medical advice

  • There is a time limit to claim of five years from the event, when medical advice was first sought or after retirement where no particular incident caused the condition whichever is the earliest. There is an exceptions list for late-onset conditions and discretion within the scheme for exceptional cases

  • It is a no-fault scheme; a claim against the scheme does not prevent individuals making a claim for negligence against the MOD

The scheme is designed to be comprehensive but there may be instances where claimants are unsure of their eligibility or may have had a potential claim rejected. In those circumstances, the skills and advice of an experienced personal injury solicitor specialising in military claims may help to resolve the issue in favour of the claimant.

Help with making a military claim
YouClaim's professional lawyers work to strict and exacting standards laid down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and our methods are scrupulously monitored for all personal injury cases including those involved in a military claim.

Our success rate is extremely high and, with our no win no fee system, you are guaranteed to receive 100% compensation in the event of a successful claim.

In some medical negligence cases you may be required to pay for the procurement of certain medical records, but we will always advise you of any costs beforehand and in a won case you will be fully reimbursed.

Our friendly, sympathetic advisors are ready to talk to you right now on our free UK helpline. Give them a call on 0800 10 757 95 or have an e-chat online. If it's not convenient right now we can call you back, or you could give us a few details by filling in our claim form and we can start by offering free advice on pursuing a military claim.

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