// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Military veterans told they owe thousands of pounds over clerical error
Royal Artillery veteran Ray Lawton has been ordered to repay £8,000
Hundreds of former members of the military have had their pensions slashed after receiving letters telling them to repay thousands of pounds because of a clerical error.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to the BBC that more than 1000 retired service personnel are being pursued for debts. The majority, 335 veterans, were overpaid a total of £5.1m as a result of incorrect National Insurance calculations.
The Forces Pension Society said it is aware of a small number of veterans whose debts were wiped after raising a formal complaint.
Ray Lawton, 70, was told in July he owed £8,000 following six years of overpayments. Days later, his monthly military pension was cut from £550 to £365.
"I haven't got £8,000 to pay out," said Lawton, who served 16 years in the Royal Artillery.
"I've got a little bit put aside but nowhere near that much."
The Portsmouth-based veteran told the BBC: "I've trusted the army all my life even when I left and I trusted my pension would be right. Then this letter comes and it's just blown it all out."
Lawton's letter was sent from a company called Equiniti, which administers the pension scheme on behalf of the MoD.
It said an error in its system meant he had been overpaid for years.