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Military Injury Compensation Claims

If you were injured or made ill by your service in the Armed Forces, there are two separate routes to compensation — and they are often confused, sometimes by claims companies that should know better. One is the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, a no-fault government scheme that is free to apply to yourself. The other is a civil negligence claim against the Ministry of Defence. You can use both for the same injury, and they work completely differently.

This guide explains each route honestly, including where you do not need to pay anyone at all.

The Two Routes at a Glance

Armed Forces Compensation SchemeCivil claim against the MOD
Do you have to prove fault?No — no-fault schemeYes — MOD negligence
Who decides?Veterans UK, against a fixed tariffNegotiated settlement or court
Time limit7 years (some exceptions)3 years (from injury or knowledge of it)
Cost to applyFree — no solicitor or claims company neededUsually no win, no fee via a solicitor
AwardTax-free lump sum, plus a monthly income payment for serious injuriesDamages valued individually, can be higher for serious negligence cases

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

The AFCS compensates for any injury, illness or death caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. It covers regulars, reserves and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, whether you are still serving or have left. Because it is a no-fault scheme, you do not need to show the MOD did anything wrong — only that service caused the injury.

There are two types of award: a tax-free lump sum for pain and suffering, set by a tariff of injuries, and — for more serious injuries — a Guaranteed Income Payment, a tax-free, index-linked monthly payment for life.

You do not need a claims company or solicitor to apply, and Claims Bible does not take AFCS claims. Applying through Veterans UK costs nothing, and free independent help is available from the Veterans Welfare Service. A paid representative working no win, no fee will keep a share of an award you could have received in full.

Worth knowing:

  • The time limit is 7 years, usually from the incident, first seeking medical advice, or discharge — whichever is earliest. Late claims can be accepted in some circumstances, such as illness that appears later.
  • The most seriously injured (tariff levels 1–8, injuries on or after 9 May 2011) can apply for a fast payment — currently £61,800 — within 6 months of the injury, without completing the full claim process.
  • If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a reconsideration within 12 months, and appeal to an independent tribunal after that.
  • If your condition has not stabilised, Veterans UK make an interim award and review it later — and if it is later reduced, you do not repay anything.

If your injury was caused by service before 6 April 2005, the War Pension Scheme applies instead.

Civil Claims Against the MOD

Separately from the AFCS, the MOD owes its personnel a duty of care like any employer — to provide safe systems of work, adequate training and proper equipment. Where it fails in that duty and you are injured as a result, you can bring a negligence claim, exactly as a civilian would against their employer. An AFCS award does not take this right away, though compensation for the same injury is offset so you are not paid twice.

Civil claims are valued individually rather than against a tariff, covering pain and suffering plus your actual financial losses — lost earnings, care, treatment and adaptations. For serious injuries this route can produce substantially higher awards than the scheme.

Two things make military negligence claims different from civilian ones. The time limit is 3 years from the injury, or from when you first knew it was linked to service — shorter than the AFCS window, so this route closes sooner. And "combat immunity" means the MOD cannot generally be sued for decisions made in the heat of battle, though it applies far more narrowly than many veterans assume: training accidents, equipment failures and negligent medical treatment usually fall outside it.

Evidence that supports a claim

Medical records linking the condition to service, service records, accident or incident reports, and witness accounts from colleagues. If you are still serving, report the injury through your chain of command and make sure it is documented — that record matters years later.

Military Deafness and Hearing Loss

Hearing loss and tinnitus from weapons fire, aircraft, engine rooms and machinery are among the most common service-related conditions, and often only become obvious years after discharge. These claims are live: our specialist partner takes Army, Navy and RAF hearing loss claims on a no win, no fee basis.

Read the full military deafness and hearing loss guide, or estimate your claim with the hearing loss calculator.

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Non-Freezing Cold Injury

NFCI — lasting nerve and tissue damage to hands and feet from cold, wet conditions without freezing — disproportionately affects service personnel and is a recognised basis for claims against the MOD, typically where cold-weather training continued despite reported symptoms or inadequate kit. We are not currently taking NFCI claims. If you believe you have one, a specialist military claims solicitor can advise you directly; the 3-year civil time limit runs from when you connected your symptoms to service, so do not wait. We are working on specialist NFCI support and will update this page if that changes.

Medical Negligence in Service

We are not currently taking medical negligence claims, including those arising from service medical care. You can complain directly through the NHS complaints procedure or instruct a specialist clinical negligence solicitor directly.

Common Questions

Can I claim AFCS and also sue the MOD?

Yes. The scheme is no-fault and does not affect your right to bring a negligence claim for the same injury. Compensation is offset between the two so the injury is not paid for twice, but pursuing both is common in serious cases — the AFCS pays sooner, while a civil claim can value serious losses more fully.

Do I need a solicitor for an AFCS claim?

No. The application is free, Veterans UK decide it against a fixed tariff, and free help is available from the Veterans Welfare Service and service charities. A solicitor adds value for a civil negligence claim, not the scheme application.

Can I still claim after leaving the forces?

Yes, for both routes. The AFCS allows 7 years, and civil claims allow 3 years from when you knew the injury was service-related — which for conditions like hearing loss or NFCI can be long after discharge, when a doctor first makes the connection.

What if my condition appeared years after service?

Both routes account for late-developing conditions. For the AFCS, the clock can run from when you first sought medical advice. For civil claims, it runs from your "date of knowledge" — when you reasonably connected the condition to service. Get the date a professional first linked your condition to service documented; it anchors the time limit.

How much compensation will I get?

Under the AFCS, the tariff sets the figure by injury severity. In a civil claim, the award is built from the Judicial College Guidelines bracket for your injury plus your financial losses — see how compensation is calculated for how that works in practice.

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Hearing Loss Compensation Calculator

Personal Injury Claim Time Limits UK

How Much Compensation for Personal Injury?

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How much could your claim be worth?

Try our hearing loss calculator — free, takes under a minute, and uses the official figures for this claim type.

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Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper

Claims Expert, Claims Bible

Gavin writes and reviews Claims Bible's guidance on compensation claims. Claims Bible is a trading style of Forces Compare Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA for claims management activities (FRN 785329).

Updated 19 August 2026 · Part of our Personal Injury guide