Army Medical Pension & Benefits

veteran455

I am in receipt of a British Army Medical Pension, can someone please tell me if I can claim any benefits at all? I have been refused Job Seekers Allowance because of my Medical Pension. I have also just be awarded a War Pension of 20% under AFPS75 but payments are not due to start until 2016. I am no longer able to work due to my injuries and no one seems to be able to give me clear advice on what - if anything - I am entitled to. Can anyone please offer any useful advice. Thank you.

Dunroamin

How much is your pension?

pmlindyloo

Since you have been refused JSA because of your pension then I am presuming you are claiming income based benefits rather than contribution based? If that's not the case (hence above question) then ignore the rest of this!

Means tested benefits like JSA and Employment Support Allowance (those unfit for work) take into account any income (like your pension - although they may disregard £10 ish) and any capital/savings and other household income (partner's for example)

So if your pension is over a certain amount then you wouldn't be eligible.

If you rent your property then you may be able to claim housing benefit and council tax support.

You may also be able to claim Personal Independence Payment which is for care/mobility needs and is not means tested (you can be a millionaire and still receive it.

As well as answering Dunroamin's question could you also tell us how old you are? (Might be a different benefit available)

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Rather than PIP try claiming AFIP - The Armed Forces Independence Payment - same as PIP but for ex-soldiers.

Pete268

veteran455 wrote: »

I am in receipt of a British Army Medical Pension, can someone please tell me if I can claim any benefits at all? I have been refused Job Seekers Allowance because of my Medical Pension. I have also just be awarded a War Pension of 20% under AFPS75 but payments are not due to start until 2016. I am no longer able to work due to my injuries and no one seems to be able to give me clear advice on what - if anything - I am entitled to. Can anyone please offer any useful advice. Thank you.

Hi,

Other than what the others above have above, as it stands a 20% War Pension does not give access to any further War Pension Allowances (such as War Pensions Mobility, or Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation etc).

Do I take it that the reason your War Pension does not come into payment is that you were previously awarded a gratuity (for disablement between 1% and 19%) and this gratuity must be paid off first? Or is there another reason.

The War Pension Scheme is actually separate to AFPS75, in that you can claim a War Pension without claiming your AFPS75 pension and vice versa. If your AFPS pension was 'preserved' when you left the forces and you cannot now permanently work, it maybe that you can claim your AFPS pension before it was due to come into payment (usually aged 60 unless you served to the immediate pension point).

Ideally get in touch with an organisation such as the Royal British Legion (Legionline 08457 725 725) who will be able to put you in touch with your local Welfare Officers) who can go through what you are currently claiming and see what else (both civilian and military) benefit wise you maybe entitled to and will help you claim.

Advice from the Legion is free and you do not have to be a member. It is often quicker than waiting to see a civi organisation such as CAB/Dial etc.

Peter
RBL Welfare Case Officer

Pete268

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Rather than PIP try claiming AFIP - The Armed Forces Independence Payment - same as PIP but for ex-soldiers.

He would only be able to claim that if he had an award under the 'new' Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for injuries which occurred post April 2005. These are given at Tariff levels and not as a percentage.

As he has been awarded a percentage award under the older War Pension Scheme he would only be able to claim the civilian PIP unless he may become eventually become entitled to War Pension Supplementary Allowances which overlap with DLA/PIP, provided he can get his percentage increased to at least 40% disablement.

Peter

veteran455

Thank you for all the responses to my question. They have been very helpful and we have been in touch with the RBL for more support.

Billy_two_speakers

veteran455 wrote: »

I am in receipt of a British Army Medical Pension, can someone please tell me if I can claim any benefits at all? I have been refused Job Seekers Allowance because of my Medical Pension. I have also just be awarded a War Pension of 20% under AFPS75 but payments are not due to start until 2016. I am no longer able to work due to my injuries and no one seems to be able to give me clear advice on what - if anything - I am entitled to. Can anyone please offer any useful advice. Thank you.

If you look on face book there is a closed group where you can get advise and on arrse too you might be allowed ESA pip/dla can also be claimed the special pip/war pension agreement is only for people with certain problems and an award of post 2005 afcs with a certain tier that's the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) getting help from British legion is good idea but go to head office special department not local office also vet agency itself has welfare works who can help you too