Military Deafness Matrix Claims Extended

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Everything you need to know about the extension to the deadline for Military Deafness Matrix compensation claims and the legal options that may be available.

What is the Military Deafness Claims Matrix Agreement?

The Matrix Agreement is an agreement reached between the Ministry of Defence and select Law Firms, which benefits both current and former military personnel who suffer with hearing loss related to Military service.

The Matrix Agreement essentially means an agreement has been reached that the Ministry of Defence will no longer dispute that they owe a duty of care to armed forces members who have suffered Military Deafness.

Claims which are brought through the Matrix Agreement will now only have to prove that the hearing loss that has been suffered is due to time serving, in exchange for a deduction in compensation for the factors that the MOD will not contest.

Military Deafness Matrix Claims

When has the deadline for Matrix Claims been extended to?

It was announced on 2nd July 2026 that the deadline for submitting claims through the Matrix Agreement has now been extended to the 31^st of January 2027.

Who will this extension benefit?

The extension of the Matrix Agreement will benefit those who have either not yet joined the Matrix Agreement, or are still deciding whether or not to do so – allowing them more time to prepare and apply.

Why choose to bring a Claim through the Matrix Agreement rather than Civil Proceedings?

The Matrix Agreement is available to those who served after May of 1987
Claims that are brought through the Matrix agreement are no longer prevented by a defence of Limitation
We hope this will streamline claims, as they will not be subject to bringing Civil Court proceedings.

Do I have a Military Hearing Loss compensation claim?

You may have a Military Hearing Loss claim if you have:

been employed by the Ministry of Defence at any time since 1987
signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, which includes difficulty hearing background noise or asking others to repeat themselves
signs of ringing or buzzing in your ears which can be continuous or intermittent, also known as Tinnitus, which can be a sign that your hearing has been damaged by noise
not previously claimed through another Solicitors

How do Military Deafness claims work?

What happens after we receive your enquiry?

Once we have received your enquiry, a member of our Industrial Disease team will have a no-obligation consultation with you to gather information and review your circumstances, to advise you as to whether we are able to proceed with your claim.

If we are able to proceed with your claim, we will then organise a hearing test and request your Ministry of Defence records and medical records.

Liaising with the Ministry of Defence (MoD)

Following your hearing test, providing this passes the calculations for Military Noise Induced Hearing Loss, we will send a Letter of Claim to the Ministry of Defence and provide your authority to proceed through the Matrix Agreement.

The Ministry of Defence representatives will provide us with a ‘Matrix Offer’, which is based on your time served and any time served before 1987, which will be reviewed and be advised whether you should accept this or not. This will be a ‘%’ value, rather than a monetary offer.

Recovering your Financial Losses

During the course of your claim, we will obtain medical evidence in support of your claim. This will set out whether the expert is of the opinion that your hearing loss has been caused by noise damage, and the extent of your hearing loss. We have many heads of loss to consider. For example:

General Damages – Award for the injuries themselves

These damages are assessed in accordance with the Judicial College Guidance which range as follows:

Severe tinnitus and NIHL – £39,250 to £60,160
Moderate tinnitus and NIHL or moderate to severe tinnitus or NIHL alone – £19,680 to £39,250
Mild tinnitus with some NIHL – £16,640 – £19,680
Mild tinnitus alone or mild NIHL alone – Around £15,480
Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight NIHL – £9,720 – 16,640
Slight NIHL without tinnitus or slight tinnitus without NIHL – Up to £9,260

Special Damages – These are awards for all other losses as a result of your injury which can include:

Past and Future Loss of Earnings
Cost of Aiding and Equipment
Impact on the Labour Market (Smith v Manchester Award)

What should I do if I believe my hearing has been affected by my time in service?

Gather any evidence you believe will be able to assist with your possible claim, which could be things like medical appointments attended, or any results of any previous hearing tests.

Don’t worry if you don’t have anything to hand, as this will be carried out during the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

In what circumstances will I not be able to claim for Military Deafness?

Unfortunately, we are not able to assist those who served time before May 1987 only.

This is due to Crown Immunity, meaning the Ministry of Defence cannot be sued for any injuries sustained before 1987.

How long will my claim take?

We advise that a claim may take between two to three years. As there are many claims being brought against the Ministry of Defence at this time, there is a delay in receiving records from the MOD and receiving a response.

However, we will provide monthly updated throughout your claim, and at any time we receive correspondence from the MOD or their representatives.

Why choose Oakwood Solicitors?

No upfront cost
No obligation consultation
Caring and client-focused

Military Deafness Matrix Claims Extended to January 2027