The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is a government department responsible for protecting the UK and its citizens from various threats. But what happens when they fail to safeguard personal data, and you suffer because of it? Ministry of Defence data breach claims raise a lot of questions, but Data Breach Claims is here to help.
Key Takeaways
- The MoD has its own personal information charter that sets standards concerning how it handles the data of individuals
- They must follow data protection legislation like any other organisation
- In 2022, the MoD suffered a data breach that affected the personal data of almost 19,000 Afghan citizens
- You can make a data breach claim no matter where you are in the country with our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors
Contact Us
When you contact Data Breach Claims, you’re speaking to a real advisor. So, if you have any further questions about the claims process or if you’d like to get started, get in touch today by:
- Calling on 020 8050 6279
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Can Make Ministry Of Defence Data Breach Claims
- What Are Some Examples Of A Defence Departmental Data Breach?
- What Information Could Be Involved In An MoD Data Breach?
- How Much Compensation Can I Get For A Government Defence Department Data Breach?
- The Afghan Relocations And Assistance Policy (ARAP) Scheme Data Breach
- What Do I Need In Order To Claim MoD Data Breach Compensation?
- How Can Data Breach Claims Help Me?
- Learn More
Who Can Make Ministry Of Defence Data Breach Claims?
Anyone can make Ministry of Defence data breach claims if they can prove that they were harmed due to a failure to protect their personal information. This means that you need to establish that:
- Your personal information wasn’t handled in line with data protection legislation
- This led to the personal data being compromised
- As a result, you suffered psychological harm, financial loss, or both
Your personal data is protected by the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This legislative framework governs the processing of personal data.
Keep reading as we continue to explore the Ministry of Defence data breach claims process. You can also get in touch for more tailored guidance on claim eligibility.
What Are Some Examples Of A Defence Departmental Data Breach?
Some examples of a potential military data breach claim include:
- Personal data sent to the wrong address: Despite having the correct information on file, departmental staff sends out a letter informing a former soldier about a forthcoming independent investigation to the wrong postal address. This leaves them with severe anxiety as the letter contains details concerning their service history and the investigation itself.
- Inadequate cybersecurity policies: Hackers gain access to service records due to inadequate cybersecurity measures, resulting in the release of personal data online. The disclosure affects multiple individuals who require additional home security.
These are only a few ways in which a data breach could occur. If you’d like to share your experience in confidence, please reach out today.
What Information Could Be Involved In An MoD Data Breach?
An MoD data breach could involve information that can be used as personal identifiers, either directly or indirectly. This might include:
- Full names
- Email addresses and phone numbers
- Passport details
- Postal addresses
The nature of the MoD means they also routinely handle more sensitive personal information, referred to as special category data. This type of personal data needs extra protection under UK GDPR, such as:
- Ethnic and racial information
- Genetic and biometric data, like fingerprints and iris scans
- Health records, including details about medical conditions
- Religious or political beliefs
We understand that there is a lot of information to take in, but our advisors are here to help.
How Much Compensation Can I Get For A Government Defence Department Data Breach?
If your claim is successful, how much compensation you can get for a government defence department data breach claim will depend on the specifics of your material and non-material damage.
We’ll start with non-material damage. This is the psychological harm you’ve suffered as a result of the breach, which can range from anxiety to severe, life-changing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Then, there is material damage. We’ll discuss this in more detail shortly, but it’s simply the financial impact of the breach.
To calculate the potential value of any psychological harm, solicitors can reference the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is useful for this purpose, as the document provides guideline compensation brackets for many forms of harm.
Below, you can find some JCG brackets for PTSD and general psychological damage. However, please remember that these are not guaranteed, and that the top figure isn’t from the JCG.
| Psychological Harm | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Instances of Severe Psychological Harm Alongside Financial Losses | Up to £250,000+ | This payout would contain the combined effects of multiple severe kinds of psychological harm as well as financial losses, such as the cost of relocation or therapy. |
| Severe Psychiatric Damage | £66,920 - £141,240 | Every aspect of the claimant's daily life is affected, with a very poor prognosis. |
| Moderately Severe Psychiatric Damage | £23,270 - £66,920 | The prognosis is more optimistic, but the claimant still faces significant issues that may affect their work or relationships. |
| Moderate Psychiatric Damage | £7,150 - £23,270 | Claimant may have faced problems with their relationships, but there is a good prognosis. |
| Less Severe Psychiatric Damage | £1,880 - £7,150 | Compensation factors in how extensive the impact on sleep and day-to-day activities is. |
| Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | £73,050 - £122,850 | The claimant will be unable to work or at least function as they did pre-PTSD. |
| Moderately Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | £28,250 - £73,050 | A better prognosis compared to above with professional intervention, but claimant still likely faces significant disability. |
| Moderate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | £9,980 - £28,250 | No grossly disabling symptoms persist, and the claimant will have largely recovered. |
| Less Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | £4,820 - £9,980 | A mostly full recovery is made within 1-2 years, with only minor symptoms persisting. |
Can I Be Compensated For Material Loss After A MoD Data Breach?
As mentioned above, you can be compensated for material loss after an MoD data breach if you have proof that you were financially affected by the incident. This would relate to the following expenses:
- Therapy and counselling
- The cost of moving to a new address
- Extra home security, such as a change of electronic devices
- Lost earnings
To find out how a solicitor from our panel could help you prove these losses, please contact our advisors today.
The Afghan Relocations And Assistance Policy (ARAP) Scheme Data Breach
In August 2025, the Ministry of Defence acknowledged that there had been 49 data breaches related to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme in the previous 4 years. Perhaps the most widely reported breach occurred in February 2022, compromising the personal data of almost 19,000 Afghans who had made applications under the ARAP and Afghanistan Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia (EGS) schemes.
The breach occurred when a defence official contacted a number of Afghans to verify a small subset of applications. They believed they were emailing a list of 150 names, but they actually sent out a spreadsheet containing personal information for all applicants. This data included names, phone numbers, and some addresses, as well as certain information related to relatives and associates.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8950pyy1vo
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/15/afghan-resettlement-scheme-secret-superinjunction-explainer
What Happened In 2025?
In August 2025, the government revealed that a personal data breach may have impacted upwards of 3,700 Afghans who had travelled to the UK as part of the ARAP scheme.
The cybersecurity breach involved an unauthorised access to a batch of emails belonging to a subcontractor. According to reports, there was a risk that this incident may have exposed passport and ARAP details belonging to Afghans who arrived between January and March 2024.
If your personal data has been affected by the ARAP scheme data breach, we recommend speaking to a member of our sensitive advisory team. They can provide you with free, confidential advice regarding data breach claims.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce87nyr3evro
What Do I Need In Order To Claim MoD Data Breach Compensation?
In order to claim MoD data breach compensation, you need evidence that shows how you were financially or psychologically affected by a failure to comply with data protection laws. This proof might include:
- Relevant correspondence, such as notification letters or emails from the MoD concerning the breach
- Medical records or a psychological diagnosis confirming the psychological effects
- Financial records, like an invoice from a counsellor or the tenancy agreement for your new flat after you had to relocate
- The findings of any investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office, if you made a complaint to the UK’s independent data regulator
Evidence is one of the most important parts of your claim, but you don’t need to take this step on your own. For example, a solicitor from our expert panel could help you find different avenues to obtain proof and ensure that your claim is as strong as possible. Speak to our advisors today to learn more.
How Can Data Breach Claims Help Me?
Data Breach Claims can help you from the moment you reach out to our advisory team. They can assess your case for free and connect you with a panel of solicitors who always put their clients first, no matter what. As part of this client-focused commitment, our entire panel of solicitors works on a No Win No Fee basis via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
This approach allows clients to access all of their services from start to finish without worrying about steep solicitor fees. That means zero solicitor fees are charged upfront or during the claim process, nor if the case is lost. Besides these advantageous terms, our panel of solicitors have a wealth of experience helping their clients by:
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Gathering evidence
- Communicating professionally with the defendant
- Coordinating access to mental health services and other specialist support
- Arranging translations and interpretations, where necessary
If your data breach solicitor helps you get compensation, they’ll take a small success fee out of it. However, this fee is kept small as it is deducted as a legally capped percentage.
Contact Us
Why wait? Our team of advisors is ready to answer any questions you may have about the data breach claims process. Get started today by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 6279
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Learn More
Read some of our other personal data breach claim guides:
- See how to make a local authority data breach claim
- Find out how to make a student data breach claim
- Get information on making a charity data breach claim
Some further resources:
- Read about obtaining information the MoD holds about you
- MoD information on online security for serving and ex-serving defence personnel
- Learn about the National Cyber Security Centre
Thank you for reading our guide to Ministry of Defence data breach claims.