Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) average and (b) median processing times were for (i) initial claims and (ii) deterioration claims under the War Pension Scheme in each of the last three financial years; and what steps the Department is taking to introduce clearer (A) service standards and (B) timescales for claimants.

The following table shows the average and median clearance times for initial and deterioration claims under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) over the last two financial years. Clearance times refer to the number of working days between when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) receives a claim and when the claim is finalised and the decision is notified.

The MOD publishes annual statistics for the WPS on the GOV.UK website. Data for 2025-26 will be published in the WPS Accredited Official Statistic on 2 July 2026 at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/war-pension-recipients-index

At the point of claim registration, individuals are sent a notification outlining an approximate timeline for their claim. Most cases are processed within 12 months from receipt. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as complex cases or where additional information from a GP or hospital is required, the process may take longer.

Full detail about the claim process is available on the WPS GOV.UK website, and individuals are able to request assistance and general updates on their claims via the UK freephone Enquiry Centre.

The MOD is also introducing GOV Notify, a cross-government communications tool that will send key updates to individuals who have opted in to the service as their case progresses, and content on the wider GOV.UK platform will be reviewed to further improve clarity and manage customer expectations.

In addition to improvements in communication, the MOD has introduced a range of interventions to support delivery. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed, and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience. To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the recruitment of additional administrative and caseworker staff. A dedicated taskforce has also been established to optimise processes and IT systems.