The War Pension Scheme is the precursor to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), which is designed to provide assistance to those who have sustained an injury, illness or disorder during their military service.
If you served in the armed forces before 6th April, 2005, this scheme could apply to you. It’s run by the UK government through its Veterans UK department, with the value of payments set by parliament. They can be issued as a weekly or monthly pension, or as one lump sum payment. Here’s everything you need to know about the scheme, including eligibility, how to claim and what you can expect to receive.
The War Pension Scheme is a government initiative set up to compensate veterans for any injury or illness that was caused or made worse by their service. As well as servicemen and women who can claim directly, it also applies to the husbands, wives and civil partners of a serviceperson who died as a result of their service.
Claims to the War Pension Scheme can be made for both physical and mental health conditions, as long as they’re related to military service during the specified timeframe. There’s no time limit imposed on when an application can be made, as long as you have already left the armed forces.
However, if you’re making the claim more than seven years after your discharge date, the onus will be on you to prove that your injury or illness was a direct result of your service in order to be successful. For claims made earlier, the armed forces would have to prove they were not responsible for the claim to be denied.
War Pension Scheme rates are set by parliament and reviewed every year, rising in line with the Consumer Price Index. The amount you receive depends mainly on the severity of your disablement, which is assessed as a percentage, sometimes after a medical examination.
If your injury or illness is assessed at below 20 per cent, you’ll receive a one-off lump sum, known as a gratuity. The amount reflects the severity and expected duration of the condition.
For assessments rated as 20 per cent or more, you’ll receive an ongoing pension paid weekly or monthly. For illustration, an injury such as significant hearing loss caused by service noise is typically assessed at around the 20 per cent level. Injuries that may receive the maximum 100 per cent rate include the loss of two limbs or total loss of sight.
As of the 2026/27 tax year, the weekly disablement pension ranges from £49.62 at 20 per cent to £248.10 at 100 per cent, with rates scaling up across the bands in between.
Additional allowances may be available depending on your circumstances. These include a Constant Attendance Allowance for those needing regular care, a Mobility Supplement or an Unemployability Supplement where the condition prevents you working. In the most serious cases, an Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance may be paid.
Once you reach 65, you may also be eligible for an age allowance, provided your disablement is assessed at 40 per cent or more. Unlike some allowances, the amount is based on your assessed disablement rather than your age, so the higher your percentage, the more you receive. For 2026/27, it ranges from £16.55 a week at the 40 to 50 per cent bands up to £51.10 a week at 100 per cent, with a small additional amount payable from age 80.
You can check the latest figures on the GOV.UK War Disablement Pension rates page.
The War Pension Scheme was replaced by the AFCS on 6th April 2005. The new system was introduced to modernise the way veterans are compensated, bringing in a clearer, faster tariff-based approach weighted towards the most seriously injured. Rather than the percentage assessments used by the War Pension Scheme, the AFCS pays a lump sum against a set tariff, with an ongoing monthly income payment for the more serious injuries.
Which scheme applies depends on when your injury or illness arose, not when you claim. The War Pension Scheme covers service before 6th April 2005, while the AFCS covers service on or after that date, so you cannot claim for the same condition under both. While there is no time limit for a War Pension Scheme claim, AFCS claims usually carry a seven-year deadline, with exceptions for late-onset conditions. Both schemes are tax-free, run by Veterans UK and based on whether your condition is linked to service rather than proving fault.
| Feature | War Pension Scheme | Armed Forces Compensation Scheme |
| Service date | Before 6th April 2005 | On or after 6th April 2005 |
| Time limit to claim | None | Usually within seven years |
| Assessment | Percentage degree of disablement | Tariff with 15 levels |
| Payment | Lump sum or ongoing pension | Lump sum plus monthly income payment for serious injury |
The easiest way to make a claim for payments under the War Pension Scheme is online via the government’s Veterans UK site, though it is also possible to make a paper-based claim via post. Before you start, you’re advised to have the following information to hand:
Once you have all the necessary information to hand, the process should be straightforward to complete.
After submission, Veterans UK will consider the evidence and determine whether your injury or illness was caused or made worse by your service and, if so, assess your degree of disability as a percentage. This determines whether you receive a one-off lump sum or an ongoing pension, as well as the amount you’re entitled to. In some cases, you may be invited to an examination with a doctor appointed by Veterans UK, so the effect of your condition can be assessed in person.
Veterans UK aims to process claims within six months, but it can take longer depending on the complexity. Once finalised, you will receive a letter setting out the decision and the reasons behind it. If your claim was successful, this will confirm your award and how it will be paid. It’s important to note awards are not backdated – any pension is only paid from the date of the application, not the injury.
If you disagree with the outcome, you can ask Veterans UK to look at your claim again. Under the War Pension Scheme this is known as a review. To do this, you’ll need to explain why you think the original decision is wrong and include any facts or evidence that were not considered the first time round. Veterans UK will reassess your claim and write to you with the result.
In the event you’re still unhappy, you have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal. You normally have 12 months from the date of your decision letter to do this, though late appeals may be allowed if you can explain the delay. The tribunal is independent of the Ministry of Defence and reviews your case in full.
Yes. A War Pension is separate from an armed forces pension. One compensates you for a service-related disablement; the other is the occupational pension you earned. Many veterans receive both at once.
Yes. There is generally no time limit, provided you have left the armed forces. The longer the gap, the more important medical evidence becomes, and beyond seven years from discharge you must prove the link to service yourself.
If you’re issued with a weekly or monthly pension, it will continue up until you die, but a one-off lump sum will be paid all at once. A lump sum payment is most likely to be issued if you’re experiencing disablement of less than 20 per cent. An ongoing pension is usually granted to ex-service personnel experiencing disablement of more than 20 per cent.
No. War Pension Scheme payments are tax-free and not means-tested. This differs from a regular armed forces pension, which counts as taxable income, so your War Pension is paid in full alongside it.
Timing is the main distinction. The War Pension Scheme covers service before 6th April 2005, the AFCS for injuries or illnesses that occurred on or after that date. The War Pension Scheme assesses disablement as a percentage, while the AFCS uses a tariff of lump sums and income payments.
Awards are based on your degree of disablement, assessed as a percentage by medical professionals. The higher the percentage, the more you receive. From 20 per cent it is paid as an ongoing pension, and below that usually as a lump sum.
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