Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average processing time was for claims submitted under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for mental health conditions in each of the last five years.

The table below provides the median average clearance times, in working days, for initial mental health injury/illness claims cleared under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) by financial year.

Clearance times refer to the number of working days between when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) received a claim and when the claim was finalised and the decision notified.

Over the past three years, resource levels within the AFCS have generally declined, particularly in the last 12 to 18 months, placing additional pressure on service delivery. Since mid-2025, the MOD has stabilised the system and reversed this downward trend, with current resources now expected to consistently meet demand.

Since 1 October 2025, the MOD has operated under a recruitment freeze, allowing only limited increases in Medical Advisor (MA) and administrative roles. As headcount cannot be increased, current resources are optimised through multi-skilling and reprioritising essential operational tasks. Measures such as overtime and weekend working have also been introduced to accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims.

At every stage of the AFCS process, claims from the terminally ill are given priority. In addition, the MOD Veterans Services remains available to all veterans, Service personnel, and their families, offering dedicated assistance and support.