Officials have issued a new update concerning delays in processing claims under the War Pension Scheme, which supports tens of thousands of veterans. Despite closing to new injuries incurred after 5 April 2005, the scheme continues to receive thousands of claims annually from veterans with pre-2005 service-related injuries or illnesses.
Recent figures reveal that new claimants are facing significantly longer wait times, with first claims now taking an average of 17 months to be processed. This is a marked increase compared to previous years and highlights ongoing challenges within the system.
The War Pension Scheme, distinct from the state pension, provides tax-free compensation to those no longer serving in His Majesty’s Armed Forces who sustained disablement before 6 April 2005. Compensation is awarded either as a gratuity-a lump sum for disablement under 20%-or as an ongoing pension for disablement exceeding 20%.
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The issue has come under renewed parliamentary scrutiny following a question from Paul Davies, Labour MP for Colne Valley, regarding the Ministry of Defence’s measures to reduce these delays.
In response, Calvin Bailey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Minister for Veterans and People, outlined the steps being taken. These include flexible resource management to allow staff redeployment, cross-training personnel in multiple skills, and the recruitment of additional administrative and caseworker staff. To accelerate claim clearance, weekend and overtime working have also been implemented.
Moreover, a dedicated taskforce has been established to enhance service delivery by stabilising operations, monitoring performance, and identifying improvement areas. Throughout processing, claims are managed strictly in date order to ensure fairness, with priority given to claimants who are terminally ill or over 90 years old.
Legal experts from Hugh James emphasise the scheme’s continued importance for veterans and their families, noting that many claims are for reassessments due to worsening conditions such as orthopedic and mental health injuries. Hannah Baker of Hugh James highlighted the significant wait times that claimants endure, pointing out that these delays can cause difficulties for veterans living with disabling conditions or financial uncertainty.
While acknowledging that changes to case management systems affect comparisons to previous years, the Ministry of Defence continues to address the backlog through a range of initiatives.
Veterans or their families seeking further information about eligibility and the scheme can consult official government guidance.
For more details, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-wps#who-is-eligible.