Military veterans told they owe thousands of pounds over clerical error

{"heading_1":"The Error and Its Impact","paragraph_1":"Veterans like Andrew Thorburn, 36 years in the Royal Navy, who was told he owed £26,438, are struggling to repay the debt, which has cut his pension by around £650 per month.","paragraph_2":"Barrie Goodwin, a RAF veteran who was overpaid £32,188, is also facing financial difficulties and is already cutting back on luxuries.","paragraph_3":"Veterans are advised to verify the authenticity of the overpayment letters, request more information from Equiniti, and use the Internal Disputes Procedure to complain.","heading_2":"Government's Response","heading_3":"Veterans' Experiences and Concerns","paragraph_4":"The technology company Sopra Steria, which has been in charge of the veterans' pension scheme since 2023, has acknowledged the concern caused to pensioners and is working closely with the MoD and Equiniti to ensure robust safeguards are in place for the long term."}