War Disablement Pensions
War Disablement Pensions are paid to compensate veterans for the impact that their service has on their quality of life. They are not compensation payments.
A War Disablement Pension is not an automatic entitlement; you need to apply for it. Veterans with eligible service in a recognised war or emergency can apply.
The War Disablement Pension is a tax-free lifetime entitlement. War Disablement Pensions are not considered as income when assessing entitlement to other forms of income support. The amount payable is reviewed annually in line with the movement in the Consumer Price Index.
Each claim for a War Disablement Pension is individually determined with consideration given to the nature and extent of the impact on the individual veteran.
War Disablement Pensions are awarded in percentages for specific disabilities. The percentage awarded is based on the whole of body disability. There are some pre-determined percentages relating to total disablement.
A veteran can have War Disablement Pension coverage for a number of different disabilities with a range of levels of disability from 0 to 100 percent for each disability. The maximum rate payable for the War Disablement Pension is 100 percent. However, this may be extended up to 160 percent in circumstances where a veteran’s quality of life is severely limited by the disabilities. On some occasions, a War Disablement Pension is zero-rated. This means that a veteran is not paid a weekly pension but does receive fully funded medical care for that disability.
The War Pensions Act 1954 works on the basis of a reverse onus of proof, where the claimant is given the benefit of the doubt as to the cause and nature of the disability. This ensures that the decision making process favours the veteran.
A War Disablement Pension is granted if the disability is deemed attributable to, or aggravated by Service. A disability may occur during Service, or it may develop at a later date as a result of that Service.
Allowances and Concessions
Attendants Allowance
An Attendants Allowance is paid to provide additional assistance to a totally disabled veteran. There is a set weekly amount payable, and the allowance is paid to the attendant, not the veteran.
To be eligible for an Attendants Allowance a veteran must be totally disabled. In special circumstances, the Secretary for War Pensions can pay an Attendants Allowance when a veteran is partially disabled.
Clothing Allowance
A Clothing Allowance for wear and tear on clothing or footwear or soiling of clothing is paid to veterans who:
- have suffered the loss in whole or in part of 2 limbs;
- have suffered the loss in whole or in part of a leg;
- have suffered the loss in whole or in part of an arm;
- is obliged to use any mechanical or other appliance (other than an artificial leg or artificial arm); or
- is suffering from a disability that causes or leads to the soiling of the veterans clothing.
Travel Allowances and Concessions
There are three types of travel concession available, the P23L, P23LA, and H113.
P23L
A veteran qualifies for this concession if the veteran:
- is in receipt of a 100% permanent War Disablement Pension; or
- has been in receipt of a 100% temporary War Disablement Pension for the last three years.
P23LA
A veteran qualifies for this concession if the veteran:
- is in receipt of a 100% permanent War Disablement Pension; or
- has been in receipt of a 100% temporary War Disablement Pension for the last three years; and
- is totally blind; or
- has had both legs amputated above the knee; or
- receives all or part of the War Disablement Pension because of the amputation of all or part of a limb; or
- is otherwise unfit to travel alone (verified by a medical certificate).
H113
A veteran qualifies for this concession if the veteran:
- is in receipt of a permanent War Disablement Pension; and
- is paid that pension at a rate of at least 50% in respect of a disability that impedes locomotion.
Motor Vehicle Loans
Financial assistance can be provided towards the cost of a motor vehicle or mobility scooter.
There are two types of loans, a recurring loan and a non-recurring loan. Veterans in receipt of a War Disablement Pension for a permanent locomotive disability assessed at 85 percent or more of total disablement in respect of amputation of both legs, or paraplegia or other equivalent loss of function of both legs, have an entitlement to a recurring loan.
Veterans in receipt of a War Disablement Pension for a permanent locomotive disability assessed at 85 percent or more of total disablement have an entitlement to a non-recurring, once only, loan.
Additional Payments for Gallantry Awards
A veteran who was awarded a decoration on or after 3 September 1939, and who is in receipt of a War Disablement Pension for a disability that occurred during that period of service receives an additional weekly allowance.
Funeral Grants
A funeral grant can be paid to the family of a veteran who was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension under the following circumstances.
- The veteran’s death is deemed due to service.
- The veteran was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension of 70% at the time of death, or could, in the opinion of the Secretary, have been granted a War Disablement Pension of at least 70% at the time of death.
- If the veteran died in indigent circumstances.
Medical Care
Veterans in receipt of a War Disablement Pension receive fully funded health care for their accepted disabilities. This covers GP visits; specialist visits; prescription costs; private hospital care if the need is urgent and where public hospitals care is not available; treatment from a variety of providers and appliances or equipment needed to overcome disability and enhance quality of life.
Surviving Spouse/Partners
- If the death of a veteran is deemed attributable to, or occurs during service, surviving spouses/partners receive a Surviving Spouse Pension.
- A Surviving Spouse Pension is also paid to the surviving spouse/partner of a veteran if the veteran was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension of at least
- 70% at the time of death, or who, in the opinion of the Secretary, could have been granted a War Disablement Pension of at least 70% at the time of death.
- Surviving Spouse Pensions are not taxed and are paid for the surviving partner’s lifetime unless they remarry or enter into a new relationship. The Surviving Spouse Pension is reviewed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Dependent Children
- If a surviving spouse/partner is in receipt of Surviving Spouse Pension and has a dependent child or children, then surviving spouse/partner can receive a parent's allowance up until the time the child or children are 16 years old. The Secretary for War Pensions can extend this past the age of 16 in some circumstances.
- If a veteran is totally disabled, or the veteran’s death was due to service, any dependent child or children are entitled to a children’s pension up until they are 16 years old. If the veteran is partially disabled the Secretary for War Pensions can, in some circumstances, award a children’s pension.
- If a veteran, who is a sole parent, dies during service, or the death is deemed attributable to service, or was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension of 70% at the time of death, or could, in the opinion of the Secretary, have been granted a War Disablement Pension of at least 70% at the time of death, the dependent child is entitled to an orphan’s pension.
War Bursaries
If the child of a veteran is at secondary school or undertaking training or study in a tertiary institution, the veteran may be able to apply for a War Bursary for that child.
War Bursaries are a yearly allowance that the children of veterans can apply for if their parent was or is in receipt of a War Disablement Pension of at least 70%; was or is in receipt of Veterans’ Pension; or would qualify on income grounds for other income support entitlements.
The children of veterans can continue to receive a war bursary until they are 23 years old.