If you were injured or disabled when serving in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005, you may be able to receive a war disablement pension. If you were injured or disabled after this date, you cannot get a war disablement pension, but you may be entitled to compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. These schemes are administered by the Veterans Agency and also cover war widows and widowers and their children. See the link on this page to the Veterans Agency website.
War disablement pension
You may be eligible to a war disablement pension if you were:
- Injured or disabled through serving in Her Majesty's (HM) Armed Forces, including The Ulster Defence Regiment, now known as the Royal Irish Regiment, the Home Guard and nursing and auxiliary services;
- A civil defence volunteer (CDV) disabled through serving as a CDV;
- A civilian disabled as a result of enemy action in the 1939 to 1945 war;
- A merchant seaman, a member of the naval auxiliary services or a coastguard, and you were disabled because of an injury you received or a disease suffered because of conditions during a war or because you were a prisoner-of war; or
- A member of the Polish Forces under British Command who served in the 1939-1945 war, or in the Polish Resettlement Forces and you were injured or disabled through this service.
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
The scheme covers all Regular (including Gurkhas) and Reserve personnel whose injury, ill health or death is caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. It provides compensation for significant injuries, illness and death that are caused by service including when they result from warlike incidents or terrorism. Under the terms of the scheme a lump sum is payable to Service or ex-Service personnel based on a 15-level tariff which is graduated according to the seriousness of the condition. A Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP), payable for life, will also be paid to those who could be expected to experience a significant loss of earning capacity.