Stephen Abbott

When injured, serving in HM Armed Forces the individual falls into one of three categories of Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS75, AFPS05 or AFPS15) Each pension has its merits BUT "when you are injured" changes the remuneration received which is unfair and obtuse. Those injured after 06/04/2005 receive compensation & pension but those injured before that date get pension only. This is treating one part of the injured armed forces in a different manner to the other part of the armed forces. There are many cases of suffering because there are no lump sums (compensation) for those injured before 06/04/2005. As an injured veteran ages their injuries evolve and their needs change, maybe only a simple change, like the move from walking sticks to wheelchair. This situation causes the living area to be on one level and needs room to manoeuvre the wheelchair which, takes more space in areas like bedroom, bathroom, toilet and public areas. Wheelchairs need to be 'raise and fall' or cupboards and work spaces need to be lowered, every door needs to be widened and at least two ways to exit in emergencies with ramps etc. To convert the average home to this minimum standard for a disabled person costs in the region of £100k. The transformation to enable the house to be disabled wheelchair friendly will surprise most of you, even the simple tasks are difficult. Those injured veterans on AFPS75 have to fund these changes themselves, whilst those on AFPS o5 & 15 get compensation and are able to fund the changes. This is cruel, all injured service personnel should receive pension and compensation commensurate with their category of disability and should be the same no matter when they were injured.