DUDLEY MP Ian Austin is backing a campaign for all injured veterans to receive the same compensation, regardless of when they were injured.

Veterans injured in service before April 6 2005 face higher social care costs as their War Disablement Pension is treated as normal income in means testing.

Compensation paid to those hurt since then, through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, is not considered normal income and cannot be taken by local authorities to help cover the cost of care.

The Royal British Legion is now urging the government to revise the rules so compensation paid to injured veterans is excluded from means testing regardless of when they were injured.

The charity estimates just 12 per cent of councils across the country are allowing War Disablement Pensioners to keep their full compensation as a result of the government’s current guidelines.

Mr Austin has written to the Social Care Minister Norman Lamb in support of the campaign, calling for all injured veterans to get their full entitlement.

He said: “I believe we owe our armed forces, past and present, an enormous debt of gratitude, and part of repaying that debt means ensuring injured veterans have long-term financial stability.

“Injured veterans rightly receive compensation for the pain, suffering and hardship they face. It is not normal income and it shouldn’t be treated as such.

“I want the government to change its rule so all veterans get their full compensation, regardless of when they were injured.”