How do people who are conscripted pay their bills and mortgages?

[Shedmass8]

Let's say you're on a very high salary, like a lawyer or an engineer. Your country goes to war and you are conscripted. Your bills and mortgage are in line with your wage, and an army salary will not cover these expenses. What do people do in such scenarios? As far as I can tell, there is no insurance for being conscripted and losing your income.

Ooo that's such a strange thought - I've not considered that before. We both have income protection insurance, I'm guessing it's excluded from that or similar? Is the current company meant to continue paying wages when you're conscripted (doesn't sound fair to them!).

We'd probably have to use savings to get through it, but wouldn't be very impressed with that! Although there's exceptions on it you can be conscripted isn't there? So hopefully that would disqualify DH! I think I'd be disqualified anyway because of my employer, hopefully 😂 don't fancy that! I'm too soft for conscription.

Yeah it's not covered by income protection insurance, I checked!

As far as I'm aware your employer usually does not continue paying you in this situation!

I believe that when conscription existed in the UK there was some sort of statutory protection, but I can't recall the details.

In WW2 when the men went to war the women took on all male roles. As for mortgages I assume homeownership was less prevalent than it is nowadays.

what if you're living abroad and are a citizen of another country, and your country goes to war and you're called back to fight?

I'm talking more about present day scenarios.

But rven in WWI and II, if the woman left at home was less qualified, she couldn't suddenly become a lawyer or a doctor. She'd have to train first.

what if you're living abroad and are a citizen of another country, and your country goes to war and you're called back to fight?

Your home country can't force you to leave another country, unless the host country kicks you out.

If your country is at war and needing to conscript civilians, the situation would be far graver than worrying about loss of salary, eg house being destroyed by bombing.

There were/are 'reserved occupations' for vital roles (police, medics, coal miners (back in the day)) and not all workers are hauled off to the armed forces.

Not necessarily. Some countries are very large and the conflict zone is delimited within a relatively small territory, but people are called up from all regions of the territory

If you are a reservist who is called for service you can claim the difference between army pay and your employers pay so one might expect it to be similar.

However at the point where conscription was required that might not be economically viable for the country.

I presume what's happening in Ukraine is existential enough that the banks have informally introduced a moratorium on debt payments... No idea if that's the case but that would be my guess.

While the situation in Israel isn't ostensibly quite as severe, actually it's even more existential so maybe the same applies?
Actually in Israel there's been the existential threat for ages so maybe the state / financial system already has some sort of preparation for that? even if just conceptually and they're maybe now scrambling to put it into place...

Ah interesting. This is only for reservists though

In other countries, there is a payment holiday with no interest due (nor can it be back dated) on your mortgage. There are financial benefits while in active service (with volunteers receiving more than the drafted [or conscripted]) which makes it quite a nice little earner (comparatively speaking).

But there are reserved occupations and it is likely a highly qualified person would be exempt from service, at least front line service.

The way it, generally, works is that people (usually men) who work in highly qualified professional occupations like doctor/engineer are drafted, rather than conscripted iyswim, into officer or technical positions in the military with salaries similar to their civilian roles. Militaries need specialists and they would be wasted fighting on the front line. It’s more difficult when someone was a peace time “solutions office worker” with a high salary but few “real” skills. Militaries don’t need them as experts but they need a higher salary to pay their bills. At this point, it does depend on the kind of war. In a total war eceonomy mortgages and things like that begin to matter much less so the state steps in and suspends payment. Smaller wars it’s trickier.

For example, I wonder how men in Ukraine are managing this right now. I'm sure there must be men on good salaries in the far west on the country who have been called up, but don't necessarily have savings, and have high outgoings.

The banks offered payment pauses during the pandemic if income fell considerably, I’d assume they’d do the same if conscription was required?

Interesting, thanks!

Conscription would have yo be brought in by legislation. I suspect the legislation would also contain clauses forcing lenders and insurers to mitigate hardship for dependents and possibly for time-served conscripts

Ah ok, didn't know this

If you’ve been conscripted it means your role is not essential. Basically you’ve lost your job anyway

Countries that have subscription have systems in place, surely.
I was based in Switzerland for years, and they have a militia system where every male serves, unless medically excused, and females can serve if they wish. When they are called up to their service, they are paid as normal by their employer, who in return is reimbursed by the government. No hassle for the individual and as it effects every employer across the country, fair and well organised.

I have no idea but this is an interesting thread!!!

Are you talking about Israel? or Russia?

In Ukraine there are various benefits on offer from discounts on housing and running costs, to free medical care, free transportation (public) and preferential loan rates.

For reference, the average salary in Ukraine is 17,176 UAH (~£335) per month. Compare this to a new recruit, undergoing training or not in a combat post, they earn 20,130 UAH (~£416). And a new recruit post-training and on the frontlines earns 120,130 UAH (~£2,500) per month. For Ukraine, this is a considerable amount of money per month. There is no problem paying the bills on this amount. It only goes up as you become more specialised.

If a soldier is killed in action, there is a payout of 15 million UAH or £311,000. This is paid to the soldier's family.