Veterans are twice as likely to run out of food than people who have never served in the armed forces

A further study conducted among a representative sample of veterans aged 16+ across England and Wales found that more than a quarter (28%) of veterans also reported that they or their household have gone without essentials like medical or dental care, essential journeys, adequate clothing and food in the last six months, and one in seven (14%) had to access a food bank in the last year. 

Additionally, one in eleven (9%) veterans say they are struggling to keep up with bills and credit commitments at the moment, and three quarters (77%) of veterans who are struggling or find it a struggle from time to time say that has been the case for more than six months. Levels of hardship are even higher for veterans with a physical or mental health condition. Veterans surveyed who had a mental health condition were more than three times as likely to be struggling to keep up with bills and credit commitments (29%), compared to veterans overall (9%). One in seven (15%) veterans with physical disabilities are facing the same situation. 

Almost one in six (16%) veterans with a physical or mental health condition have been unable to heat their home when they needed to in the last three months, and one in ten (10%) veterans surveyed who had a mental health condition received an emergency food parcel in the last month.  

Veterans in families with children are also disproportionately impacted by hardship, nearly half (47%) of veterans with children in their household reported going without the essentials such as food in the last six months and one in five (19%) have had to access emergency food in the past month.  

Alongside this, many veterans are having to make difficult decisions to get by, one in nine (11%) veterans in families with children reported borrowing money from a high interest lender such as payday loan company in the past three months in order to afford essential costs and one in seven (15%) have had to pawn or sell belongings to get access to cash quickly.

Mark Warmer, a veteran from London, found himself needing to access a food bank earlier this year due to not receiving social security payments. Speaking about his experience, Mark 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. 

Helen Barnard, Director of Policy, Trussell: 

“It’s shocking that veterans in this country are experiencing this level of hardship. We know that 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.  

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. We know from work in food banks across the Trussell community that financial insecurity can make health conditions worse. 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. This research illustrates why the government needs to update the social security system to ensure that everyone is able to afford the essentials.” 

To find out more about this research, and how you can play your part by donating to Trussell and ensuring food banks can keep supporting people like Mark this winter, visit www.trussell.org.uk. 

-ENDS- 

Notes to editors:  

Photos of Mark Warmer and Jed Mercurio are available by request, email press@trussell.org.uk. 

In October, Jed Mercurio became an Ambassador for Trussell and committed to play his part in ending hunger in the UK by using his voice to raise awareness of the solutions needed to ensure that no one needs to turn to a food bank to survive.   

1. The research is based on an online survey by YouGov, conducted on behalf of Trussell, of 589 people who had previously served in the UK Armed Forces as a Regular and/or Reserve. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd May - 5th June 2024. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all veterans in England and Wales (aged 16+).   

2. This research also includes some data from a general population survey conducted as part of Trussell’s Hunger in the UK research. This data has been referenced with a footnote (Data from Hunger in the UK, unreleased). Ipsos conducted the research on behalf of Trussell and interviewed online a representative sample of 4,427 UK adults aged 18+ from 30 May to 31 July 2024. Interviews were staggered across three survey waves conducted from the following dates: 30 May – 5 June 2024 (1,497 interviews); 24 June – 3 July 2024 (1,462 interviews); 25 July – 31 July 2024 (1,468 interviews). Of those interviewed: 204 report having previously served in the UK Armed Forces and 3,880 report that neither they nor another member of the household had previously served or are currently serving in the UK Armed Forces.  

This data has been collected by the Ipsos UK KnowledgePanel, an online random probability panel, which provides gold standard insights into the UK population. Data are weighted by age within gender, region, Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile, education, ethnicity and number of adults in the household in order to reflect the profile of the UK population. 

Other detailed information on question wording and results available from Trussell on request.