The Ministry of Defence is facing an estimated £50 billion compensation bill over hearing loss claims, a figure that an expert warns will place significant strain on the UK's armed forces. The warning follows a High Court ruling last week that backed military personnel who suffered hearing damage during their service.
Around 300,000 former service members are believed to be affected by hearing damage or tinnitus, with tens of thousands potentially eligible for compensation. Payouts are expected to range from a few thousand pounds to more than £500,000 in extreme cases. An MoD lawyer previously told the court that £50 billion had been set aside to deal with potential claims.
Gavin Cooper, a former Parachute Regiment soldier and co-founder of military compensation website Claims Bible, said the scale of the payouts would 'undeniably' put strain on the military's effectiveness. He noted that defence budgets are already stretched amid threats from Russia, China, and shifting US priorities under President Donald Trump.
Last week's hearing awarded former Royal Marine Christopher Lambie £131,150 and ex-soldier Jack Craggs £19,445 for hearing loss linked to their service. The court ruled that personnel could claim the cost of private hearing aids and damages for potential future employment difficulties. Law firm Hugh James estimates at least 70,000 personnel may be eligible, while Mr Cooper suggested the average claim could be around £72,000.
The £50 billion figure represents more than half (57%) of the MoD's total annual expenditure of £88.4 billion. The MoD has introduced a 'matrix' scheme to streamline payouts, but Mr Cooper stressed that other compensation schemes, including those related to the Afghan Data Leak and discrimination against LGBTQ personnel, would add millions more to the total bill.
