War Pension Scheme

War Pension awards are based on the degree of disablement caused by the service-attributable condition, expressed as a percentage:

• 100% disablement: Full War Pension at the standard weekly rate (reviewed annually — approximately £220+ per week at 2025 rates).
• 20–99% disablement: A proportional weekly pension. For example, 50% disablement = 50% of the standard weekly rate.
• Under 20% disablement: A one-off lump sum payment ("gratuity") rather than an ongoing pension.

The disablement percentage is assessed by a Medical Board or by the First-tier Tribunal on appeal. Multiple service conditions can be combined to calculate total disablement. The pension is tax-free and index-linked.

War Pensioners may be entitled to a range of additional payments above the base pension:

• Unemployability Supplement (US): For pensioners who are unable to work due to their war disablement — assessed at 80% or more disablement.
• Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA): For veterans who need regular attendance by another person due to the severity of their war disablement — assessed at 80%+ disablement.
• Comforts Allowance: A small additional weekly payment for veterans receiving certain levels of CAA.
• Age Allowance: Additional weekly payments for pensioners over 65 as a supplement to the War Pension.
• War Pensioners' Welfare Service (WPWS): Social work support provided free of charge by Veterans UK.
• War Pensions Committees: Local volunteer-led bodies that provide advice and support to war pensioners and their families.

To claim a War Pension:

1. Contact Veterans UK at gov.uk/veterans-uk or call 0808 1914 218 (freephone) to request a WPA3 claim form.
2. Complete the form with details of your service, the condition claimed, and the connection between the condition and service. Be as specific as possible about the circumstances in which the condition arose.
3. Include supporting evidence: medical records, service records, witness statements from fellow servicemembers, and expert medical reports where available.
4. Veterans UK will assess the claim and may arrange a medical examination. A decision will be issued on both whether the condition is attributable to service and the degree of disablement.

There is no statutory time limit for War Pension claims, but evidence is harder to gather with the passage of time. The "benefit of the doubt" principle applies — if the evidence is evenly balanced between attributability and non-attributability, the decision must go in the claimant's favour.

War Pension decisions can be reviewed or appealed as follows:

• Review: If your condition worsens, you can apply to Veterans UK for a review of your disablement percentage. If your condition improves, Veterans UK may seek to reduce your pension.
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal: If you disagree with a Veterans UK decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation). The Tribunal is independent, free to use, and can consider new medical evidence. Appeals must be made within 12 months of the decision, though late appeals can sometimes be accepted.
• Upper Tribunal: Points of law from the First-tier Tribunal can be appealed to the Upper Tribunal.

Veterans' organisations including SSAFA, Royal British Legion, and Combat Stress can provide welfare support and help with appeals. Forces Law provides specialist legal representation for war pension appeals.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a public commitment — given statutory force by the Armed Forces Act 2021 — that veterans should not face disadvantage in accessing public services due to their service. For War Pension recipients, the Covenant has practical significance in two areas.

Priority NHS treatment for service-attributable conditions: Veterans in England receive priority treatment for conditions that are assessed as being caused or worsened by military service, subject to clinical need. This means your War Pension award is itself strong evidence of a service-attributable condition, and you are entitled to ask NHS treatment providers to recognise this when prioritising your care. Inform your GP of your War Pension status and the specific conditions covered. NHS England guidance confirms that "veterans who have a condition related to their service should, in general, receive priority access to NHS treatment".

Complaining about Covenant failures: If a public body — including a local authority or NHS body — fails to give due regard to the Covenant when making decisions that affect you as a veteran, you can complain through that body's complaints process and ultimately to the relevant Ombudsman. The Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA), based in the Cabinet Office, oversees Covenant compliance across government departments and can be contacted if you believe a systemic failure is occurring.

Veterans UK as the point of contact: For all War Pension matters — claims, reviews, complaints about how a claim has been handled — Veterans UK is the primary contact. Call 0808 1914 218 (freephone, Monday to Thursday 7:30am–6pm, Friday 7:30am–4:30pm). If you are dissatisfied with how Veterans UK has handled your claim or complaint, you can escalate to the Independent Veterans' Advisory Panel or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman via your MP.