Starving British veterans are being forced to forage at foodbanks in ‘alarming’ numbers, a shock new study has claimed – as military chiefs warned too many forces heroes are now ‘falling through the cracks’.
In one of the starkest studies yet on the shameful state of the nation’s military services, anti-poverty charity Trussell warned a quarter of retired troops had run out of food in the past 12 months and didn’t have enough cash to buy anything to eat.
Alarmingly, the trust claimed this was almost twice the number of people living in households where nobody has ever served in the armed forces, with one-in-seven (14 per cent) relying on foodbanks in the past year.
Charity chiefs called the figures ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘morally inexcusable’, while one top-ranking military chief told they ‘seemed plausible’, admitting: ‘We know there’s a major problem… too many people are falling through the cracks.’
News of the data was revealed today as the nation prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday honouring past and present military heroes – with ceremonies set to be attended by politicians and royalty in London.
It comes ahead of Labour’s looming raft of ‘disturbing’ welfare reforms to disability benefits unveiled in the Chancellor’s £40billion tax raid Budget bombshell, which charities fear could affect hundreds of thousands of Britons.
‘It’s shocking that veterans in this country are experiencing this level of hardship,’ said Helen Barnard, Trussell’s director of policy.
‘We know the main reason people are forced to turn to a food bank in this country is insufficient income, and this research shows clearly that many veterans in the UK are having to try and get by on incomes that are simply too low to cover the essentials like food, bills and clothing.’
Staggeringly, almost half of veterans with children said they had gone without essentials like food in the last six months, while one-in-five (19 per cent) had to access emergency food in the past month.
As well as the struggle to put food on the table, the charity also highlighted other difficulties plaguing the armed forces community.
It found more than a quarter of veterans (28 per cent) in England and Wales had reported their households had gone without essentials like medical and dental care in the last six months.
Researchers also said almost one-in-10 ex-soldiers were struggling to keep up with their bills, as soaring food and energy prices continue to batter hard-up families.
It’s meant some military families relying on costly, high-interest payday loans to survive – with one-in-seven (15 per cent) having to pawn or sell belongings to get cash quickly.
Dorinda Wolfe Murray, chief executive of veterans charity FirstLight, branded the figures were ‘startling’ and ‘heartbreaking’.
‘There is no excuse for people at all to go homeless, hungry or not supported with their mental health. It’s morally inexcusable and downright appalling,’ she said.
‘What in God’s name is going on? How has this been allowed to happen? Food, roof over your head, safety and warmth: those are the fundamental human rights. And somehow, someway, we have got it skewed.’
Ms Wolfe Murray, whose charity provides help for homeless veterans, said the solution to fixing the crisis was ‘simple but not easy’ and involved getting ‘more boots on the ground’ to support those in need.
More funding needs to be pumped into grassroots organisations on the frontline helping forces heroes to put food on the table, she claimed.
And she warned younger veterans, who left the military after serving two years, were falling into debt after taking out ‘extortionate’ pay day loans, and warned administrative red tape was preventing some from claiming Universal Credit
‘To have what is happening, happening is dreadful,’ she added. ‘There are revolting amounts of money tied up for a rainy day. Christ, it is a rainy day already.’
Mark Warmer, a veteran from London, found himself needing to access a food bank earlier this year after not receiving social security payments.
Speaking about his experience, he said: ‘I served in the French Foreign Legion for almost a decade and saw some really difficult things that have stayed in my brain and still affect me.
‘After I left the Legion, I moved back to the UK and became a security guard and for the last 28 years I’ve worked as a concierge, a street warden and in security but in April I had to leave work to care for my mum who has dementia.
‘I applied for Universal Credit but was told that, because I quit my job, I’d be sanctioned. I haven’t received anything for the last six months – despite having always paid tax and National Insurance.
‘I was struggling to buy food for me and my mum, or pay bills, so I ended up having to go to the food bank and they’ve been great – they have helped me appeal the sanctions and apply for carers benefits, as well as helping me look for other jobs.’
Responding to these findings, Trussell is calling on the UK government to introduce a long-term plan to tackle hardship.
Ms Barnard added: ‘The UK government must swiftly build on its action in last month’s Budget to tackle hardship in our communities, to meet their manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food.
‘This must include further updates to our social security system to ensure it is fit for purpose, recognising the needs of groups who are at particular risk of hardship, including veterans.
‘Additionally, the disproportionate impact on veterans with mental and physical health conditions shows clearly that the UK government need to ensure that their plans to update disability benefits do not lead to further cuts.
‘Rather than pulling disabled people or people with a health condition deeper into hunger and hardship, this government must prioritise reforms to disability benefits which prioritise better employment support and access to healthcare.’
Television writer Jed Mercurio, who served in the Royal Air Force and has recently become an Ambassador for Trussell said: ‘It is appalling that anyone is having to go without essentials such as food or heating. Some Armed Forces veterans also face disability and other health conditions that further exacerbate the challenges of living on a low income.
‘It is not right that people who have served our country are having to miss meals, turn to food banks or pawn possessions in order to survive.’
Forces charity Help for Heroes warned that it had seen an ‘increase in anxiety from veterans and families about how they will make ends meet’.
‘In the last year, we have supported more than 400 households with grants to help pay energy and food bills as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite,’ said Sasha Misra, the charity’s head of communications, public affairs and policy.
‘Some veterans face additional challenges in their daily lives which disproportionately increase their living costs and create barriers to lasting employment. As well as physical injuries, many veterans live with hidden disabilities, such as mental illnesses, PTSD, chronic pain and other non-physical conditions.
‘Many of the veterans who leave service due to illness or injury find that there isn’t the right support available for them when they make the transition to civilian life, this is where reform is needed.’
A government spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to supporting our veterans who have given so much in defence of the UK.
‘This week, the Prime Minister announced millions of pounds of new funding to support homeless veterans, and ministers are continuing to look at how to best support veterans with employment and other needs.”
‘On top of Universal Credit and the recently extended Household Support Fund to help struggling families with the cost of essentials, veterans have access to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pensions Scheme, as well as dedicated armed forces champions in job centres.’