War Disablement Pension

War Disablement Pension is tax-free and is payable to members of various services whose disablement is due to or has been made worse as a result of being in the service.

The rate payable depends on how severely disabled the person is as compared to a normal healthy person of the same age and sex.

Members of the armed forces whose disablement is due to, or has been made worse by, service in HM Armed Forces (including the Ulster Defence Regiment, now the Royal Irish Regiment, the Home Guard and the Nursing and auxiliary Forces) provided the period of service in which the disablement arose has ended.

Members of the Mercantile Marine whose disablement is the direct result of a war injury, war risk injury or detention by the enemy, sustained during the First or Second World Wars, Korean war, Suez crisis, Falklands and Gulf conflicts;

Members of the Naval Auxiliary Personnel Forces, HM Coastguards and Auxiliary Coastguards whose disablement is the direct result of a war injury or war risk injury or detention by the enemy, sustained during the Second World War;

Members of the Polish Forces whose disablement is due to service in the Polish Forces under British Command during the Second World War or in the Polish Resettlement Forces;

Civilians and Civil Defence Volunteers whose disablement is the direct result of a war injury or war service injury sustained during the Second World War.

Pensioners are advised to contact War Pensions Agency.

Write to:
War Pensions Agency,
Norcross,
Blackpool,
FY5 3WP

Or
Telephone the War Pensions Freeline on 0800 169 2277

Or
Log on to the Veterans Agency website

as soon as it becomes apparent that disability could be due to service in the Forces, to a "qualifying injury" or to detention.

War Disablement Pension offers a choice of how you receive payment, the options are as follows:

For officers:

For all other ranks

Usually payable for life or until disablement ceases.

The level of the basic pension depends on how severely disabled the person is, as compared to a normal healthy person of the same age and sex.

This is assessed by a doctor on a percentage basis, 100% representing the maximum.

For disablement assessed at 20% or over a continuing pension is payable and for less than 20% a one off lump sum gratuity is usually paid.

For claims made on or after 7 January 1993 in respect of the condition (bilateral) noise induced sensorineural hearing loss and any related condition or symptom, no payment can be made where the assessment of disablement from that loss alone is less than 20%.

Other Supplementary Allowances may also be paid with a basic War Disablement Pension:

For current rates see WPA9.

A basic War Disablement Pension does not affect National Insurance benefits, but may be affected by Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if awarded for the same disablement.

Some elements of the War Disablement Pension i.e.

overlap with certain National Insurance benefits.

£10 of a War Disablement Pension will be disregarded when assessing:

The DWP War Disablement Pension may be paid in addition to a Service Pension administered under the MOD Armed Forces "occupational" Pension Scheme.

For further general advice and help with new and ongoing claims ring:

The War Pensioner's Welfare Service offers help and advice on any sort of problem, including issues relating to new, ongoing and existing claims.

The Northern Ireland branch is:

War Pensioners Welfare Service,
Marlborough House,
Victoria Street,
Belfast,
BT1 3GG
Tel: (028) 9032 7881
Tel: (028) 9032 7881