War Pensions
(asked on 15th July 2014) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average average (a) individual payout and (b) individual financial settlement under the War Pension Scheme has been in each year since 2010.
The War Pensions Scheme provides no fault compensation for Service personnel disabled as a result of their service in HM Forces where the cause of the injury, disability or disease is before 6 April 2005, whether or not the condition was sustained during a conflict. The table sets out the total number of claims and total amount of payments. It would give a false impression to give an answer based on a mathematical calculation of dividing the annual expenditure by the number of recipients.
Each award is specific to the individual and assessments are made based on an individual’s level of disability at any one time. Should the accepted condition deteriorate, the recipient may request a review of the level of their assessment. War Pension entitlement is given for life and the percentage assessment of each accepted condition changes as the level of disability deteriorates or improves over an individual’s lifetime.
Financial Year | Number* of payments | Total paid out £ millions |
2010-11 | 142,485 Disablement pensioners 28,425 War Widows 3,260 Lump Sum Gratuities | £935 |
2011-12 | 135,160 Disablement pensioners 26,375 War Widows 2,865 Lump Sum Gratuities | £916 |
2012-13 | 128,280 Disablement pensioners 24,415 War Widows 2,600 Lump Sum Gratuities | £908 |
2013-14 | 121,940 Disablement pensioners 22,260 War Widows 4,120 Lump Sum Gratuities | £859 |
* in line with Defence Statistics rounding policy all figures have been rounded to the nearest 5
In addition to a War Disablement Pension, some veterans may be eligible for a range of supplementary allowances such as Constant Attendance Allowance, Unemployability Supplement, Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. These allowances mirror the benefits payable by the Department for Work and Pensions but are tax free and paid at a slightly more generous rate. Entitlement to these allowances is determined by individual circumstance and level of disability. These allowances are not included in the number of payments listed above.
Each war pension award is specific to the individual and assessments are made based on an individual’s level of disability at any one time. Should the accepted condition deteriorate over time, the recipient may request a review of their assessment. The above information gives an average individual payout per annum, it does not give an overall ‘settlement’.