Universal Credit and War Pension

Dullville

I’m just posting this thread in case people google UC and War Pensions and this thread pops up as you may be missing out on Universal credit money if your a War Pensioner.
Will explain what happened to me.
Had been in receipt of legacy benefits for a couple of years which was greatly reduced due to my war pension (only disregarded £10 of war pension) ,so was having £100 odd taken of my benefits weekly.
Switched over to UC in start of  this year and informed of war pension as other income, and it was duly deducted from UC payment leaving me with no UC payment until I was awarded LCWRA later in the year which gave me a monthly payment.
Two weeks ago my new statement appeared in my journal and it was for the full amount with no deductions for my war pension.
Sent them a note in journal asking for explanation of the new improved payment and received a very pleasant surprise in the reply.
War pensions are completely disregarded for Universal credit purpose so they had been deducting my war pension when they shouldn’t of been since the start of UC claim,and today received nearly 7k in my bank.
So if anyone in receipt of a War pension and on UC please check they are not deducting your war pension payments as it should be completely disregarded for UC.
Cant believe the difference been UC and legacy benefits concerning War Pensions but happy days for me certainly.
Hope this post helps someone.

sammyjammy

Good news indeed, it already comes up as the top find if you google war pension universal credit.  Enjoy your back dated funds!

Alice_Holt

I also believe it is disregarded for Housing Benefit by most councils. 
And also a few local Council Tax reduction schemes.
This is from Baintree Council
"   War Disablement Pension, War Widow's Pension or War Widower's Pension will not be taken into account when calculating income for Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax support."

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/war-pension

JamesPeter

Whilst basic war pension is disregarded under Universal Credit, as I found out whilst helping a neighbour (another war pensioner) certain War Pension supplementary allowances paid with the basic war pension DO affect Universal Credit (and vice-versa).  

 For example, War Pensioners Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation (ALSO):

 Important information

ALSO cannot be paid if you get any of the following:

• Unemployability Supplement
• Treatment Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity components of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit.

 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-allowance-for-lowered-standard-of-occupation

There is as well War Pensioners Unemployability Supplement which affects Universal Credit as the DWP treat it as overlapping with both New Style ESA and Universal Credit – so cannot be claimed concurrently. This has the anomalous effect stopping those in receipt of Unemployability Supplement receiving Housing Costs under Universal Credit if sick. The DWP tell you to claim Housing Benefit from the council and the council tell you to claim Housing costs under Universal Credit – so veterans end up going round in circles getting no-where!

Dullville

JamesPeter said:

Whilst basic war pension is disregarded under Universal Credit, as I found out whilst helping a neighbour (another war pensioner) certain War Pension supplementary allowances paid with the basic war pension DO affect Universal Credit (and vice-versa).  

 For example, War Pensioners Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation (ALSO):

 Important information

ALSO cannot be paid if you get any of the following:

• Unemployability Supplement
• Treatment Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity components of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit.

 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/war-pension-scheme-allowance-for-lowered-standard-of-occupation

There is as well War Pensioners Unemployability Supplement which affects Universal Credit as the DWP treat it as overlapping with both New Style ESA and Universal Credit – so cannot be claimed concurrently. This has the anomalous effect stopping those in receipt of Unemployability Supplement receiving Housing Costs under Universal Credit if sick. The DWP tell you to claim Housing Benefit from the council and the council tell you to claim Housing costs under Universal Credit – so veterans end up going round in circles getting no-where!

Very informative post.

calcotti

Ridiculously complex and confusing and very hard on those who have served.
British Royal Legion have just published a report on how the benefits system works (or doesn't) for veterans and highlights the lack of understanding for particular difficulties veterans may have rbl_-making-the-benefits-system-fit-for-service-report.pdf (rblcdn.co.uk)

Dullville

calcotti said:

Ridiculously complex and confusing and very hard on those who have served.
British Royal Legion have just published a report on how the benefits system works (or doesn't) for veterans and highlights the lack of understanding for particular difficulties veterans may have rbl_-making-the-benefits-system-fit-for-service-report.pdf (rblcdn.co.uk)

Thanks for that link to the RBL report, and your not wrong about how complex and confusing the system is for veterans particularly over the guidance(none) over tax free invaliding service pensions and it’s luck of the draw if the DWP disregard or not. Bizarre.

JamesPeter

Thank you for that highlighting that report calcotti.

It does highlight what my neighbour found about the problems veterans do face trying to claim benefits. The fact one injured veteran had to give up his accessible housing and move in with relatives due to the problems claiming help with housing costs under Universal Credit is appalling.

 When I was helping my veteran neighbour and speaking with the veterans’ welfare service, they did say that when Universal Credit was set up, the DWP never considered veterans in receipt of war pensions and the inter-action with Universal Credit.  

 Thus, when veterans did start to claim universal credit, the DWP made changes rather ‘on the hoof’ without fully thinking through the what effects on veterans were. Thus, veterans are at a distinct disadvantage when trying to claim housing costs under Universal Credit or other DWP benefits and invariably fall down the cracks.  

 The front line DWP staff are no help as they don’t have a clue about veteran’s war pensions and seem to fob off veterans with any old excuse, rather than try to get to the bottom of the issues.

 As for the DWP ‘Armed Forces Champions’ when I managed to speak to one, he said he had been forced into that role as a ‘secondary duty’ from his primary role, without any training or insight and was regularly detached onto other duties. He was of no help what-so-ever and openly admitted he didn’t have a clue about the armed forces or veteran’s compensation or war pensions!

calcotti

There has been a lot of making it up as they go along in respect of UC as problems have been identified. People’s lives are often more complex than is conceived of in the abstract but the apparent failure to think at all about interaction with some of the specialist benefits is very bad.

LuckyPhil

V Interesting. Now, if a Vet's War Pension is disregarded as far as UC is concerned, why on earth do the DWP only disregard £10 of mine on ESA? Surely the same rules should apply. Do you think that there is something that the Vet's Agency or RBL could do to help Vet's on legacy benefits to get the money back that they take off us??!!  Anybody had any dealings with this?

poppy12345

LuckyPhil said:

V Interesting. Now, if a Vet's War Pension is disregarded as far as UC is concerned, why on earth do the DWP only disregard £10 of mine on ESA? Surely the same rules should apply. Do you think that there is something that the Vet's Agency or RBL could do to help Vet's on legacy benefits to get the money back that they take off us??!!  Anybody had any dealings with this?

You've asked your question on the end of someone else's thread, please start your own because it causes so much confusion.