WAR WIDOWERS PENSION UK: The War Widow(er) Pension aims to help widows and widowers.
It is for those whose husband, wife, or civil partner died before the 6th of April 2005 during HM Armed Forces service or in war time.
How Much is War Widows Pension UK?
The good news is that the different War Widows Pension rates are not liable for tax.
Like most death benefits, allowances, and pensions, payments will go into a secure account. As a rule your bank or building society account meets the requirements.
Claiming War Widows Pension Rates 2022
You can download the specific Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pensions Scheme Claim Form when you apply for the War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension. Alternatively, you can telephone the Veterans UK helpline and they will supply you with the document.
Veterans UK
Norcross
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP
Email: [email protected]
Freephone (UK only): 0808 1914 2 18
Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043
Veterans UK is part of the Ministry of Defence. They administer Armed Forces Widows pension schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through military service.
War Widows Pension Eligibility Criteria
How to claim the widower or widow pension? To meet the criteria for War Widow Pension eligibility, at least one of the following situations must apply. Can you confirm that your husband, wife or civil partner:
- Died as result of their service in HM Armed Forces before 6 April 2005.
- Was a civil defence volunteer or a civilian and their death was a result of the 1939 to 1945 war.
- Was a merchant seaman, a member of the naval auxiliary services, or a coastguard and their death was a result of an injury or disease they got during a war or because they were a prisoner of war.
- Died as a result of their service as a member of the Polish Forces under British command during the 1939 to 1945 war, or in the Polish Resettlement Forces.
- Was getting a War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of their death, or would have been had they not been in hospital.
- Was getting a War Disablement Pension at the 80% rate or higher and was getting Unemployability Supplement.
Illness, Injury, and death on or after 6th April 2005
You should claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme if your partner got injured, developed an illness, or died as a result of service on or after the 6th of April of the year 2005.
Further Help and Information
If Your Circumstances Change
You should continue to get your War Widows Pension even if there is a change in your circumstances. Getting married, forming a civil partnership, or start to live with a partner on or after the 1st of April 2015 does not usually affect your payments.
In the case where it happened before the 1st of April 2015, you should still get the pension providing your:
- Late spouse or civil partner left service before 31 March 1973 ‘and‘
- Your new relationship started on or after 6 April 2005.
What to do if Your Pension Stopped
If your pension has stopped, be sure to inform Veterans UK of any changes in your circumstances. Afterwards, you can begin the claims process once more if you:
- Become widowed again or your civil partner dies.
- Divorce, separate, or your civil partnership ends.
- Stop living with the person as their partner.
How to Make an Appeal
You can choose to appeal through an independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal if you disagree with a decision regarding your claim. It is usually recommended that before you appeal:
- You should ask Veterans UK for more information about how they reached the decision.
- It is also recommended that you ask for the decision to get reconsidered. This is appropriate if there are some facts Veterans UK may not have known when they made their decision.
Paying for War Widows Pension Funeral Expenses
In some cases, Veterans UK may pay a funeral grant up to £2,200. The grant gets paid to a widow or widower, next of kin or person paying for the funeral providing:
- The death was a result of service before the 6th of April 2005.
- War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance was being paid or would have been paid if the war pensioner had not been in hospital when they died.
- Unemployability Supplement was being paid at the time of death and the War Disablement Pension got assessed at 80% or more.
Note: There is a time limit, like the Funeral Payment assistance, of claiming within 3 months of the funeral.