A former Black Watch soldier claims he has so little money he can’t afford to buy his family Christmas cards.
David McGill, 39, of Perth, who served in Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Canada, said he is facing the “worst situation” he has ever been in after being refused jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) because of his ‘ill-health’ military pension from the army.
He said he finds it “ridiculous” to be asked to live off around £120 a month.
Mr McGill served in the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (RHR) from 1992-2000 until he was medically discharged due to a knee injury during a training exercise.
He was then made redundant in February after working in Inverness.
The former soldier received help from SSAFA (Soldiers and Sailors Families Association) and is living in a council flat.
“At present I am into my emergency electric and have about a week’s worth of food left,” he told The Courier.
“I will not receive my pension again until either December 27 or 30, so I have not even been able to buy a Christmas card for my daughter or family.”
Mr McGill said he has to pay council tax, TV licence, electricity and food off his army pension of £335.76, leaving him around £90-£120 to live on per month.
“You can’t keep getting money off your family,” he added.
“I have worked since I was aged 15, whether it was picking berries, tatties or milk rounds so this is the first time I have been unemployed.”
“The problem arose when I was told to claim for income-based JSA and this was reduced because my ill-health army pension was taken into account.
“Does this mean other soldiers who may have served in the Gulf or Afghanistan and who have a normal or disability army pension will not receive benefits? It’s ridiculous.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “We owe the men and women who have served their country a huge debt of gratitude and will do everything we can to help them to find work and make sure they get all the benefits they are entitled to if they are injured.
“The welfare state is there to help people with very little means to support themselves, and so people with regular income or savings above £16,000 are usually not eligible for all benefits.
“However, they may still qualify for non means tested support like disability living allowance.”
“As a Government, we are also committed to the Armed Forces Covenant to give members of the armed forces community priority in healthcare, home ownership schemes, social housing and school admissions.
“We are in contact with Mr McGill to explain his benefit payments.”