THOUSANDS of members of the armed forces are having to claim benefits to make ends meet.
Some 3,900 relied on Universal Credit in May – and the number on handouts has soared by 30% in a year.
The Department for Work and Pensions admitted the true figures may be much higher because the data only reflected 64% of claimants and excluded Northern Ireland.
The figures, released in response to a parliamentary question, were blasted by Labour and the Lib Dems.
Shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: “Personnel should not be forced to rely on benefits to pay the bills, or food banks to feed families.”
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