David Cameron: wounded troops will not lose disability benefits Mr Cameron is understood to have pushed through the new benefits despite fears from the Ministry of Defence that it would have to pick up the bill. He acted after charities warned that war heroes would be submitted to unnecessary and humiliating extra checks. Under the old proposals, anyone awarded compensation for war injuries would have been forced to have their disability assessed twice - once by the military and again by civil servants - to get benefits. Those who have lost two limbs, spinal injuries, mental health problems, deafness or blindness are among the groups who will now be exempt from the extra check. They will also receive their disability payments on top of injury compensation awards, which will not be counted as income when their benefits are worked out. Troops with more minor wounds will still have their disability examined to see whether they are eligible for payments. The Coalition is bringing in Universal Credit in an effort to save billions of pounds on Britain's welfare bill. It is replacing Disability Allowance with the Personal Independence Payment, but the support payment for veterans will be separate. The Prime Minister's advisory Heroes Committee is also proposing specialist help for injured veterans, including better quality prosthetic limb, IVF treatment for those whose injuries affect their fertility and dedicated military wards.