War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

This section looks at the number of War Pensions in payment under the War Pension Scheme and the number and outcomes of claims registered as well as tariff of injury table information for lump sum awards under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

The War Pension Scheme (WPS)

Pensions, allowances or other payments may be awarded under the WPS where disablement or death is a result of Service in HM Forces, or of an injury sustained as a result of war-time Service in the Naval Auxiliary Service, or the Mercantile Marine, prior to 6 April 2005. Awards may also be made in respect of Service in the Polish Forces under British command during World War Two. While most payments are made to people living in the United Kingdom, some recipients are from overseas. Pensions, allowances or other payments may also be awarded where the disablement or death of a civilian or a member of the Civil Defence Organisation is the direct result of an injury sustained as a result of enemy action in World War Two.

Table 3.21 is produced using the Service Personnel and Veteran's Agency (SPVA) War Pension Computer System. This table appeared in chapter 2 of UKDS in 2008. Further information on the WPS can be found in the National Statistic War Pensions Quarterly Statistics which is published on the DASA website.

The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)

The AFCS came into force on 6 April 2005 to pay compensation for injury, illness or death attributable to Service that occurred on or after that date. It replaced the previous compensation arrangements provided by the WPS and the attributable elements of the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme. Injury benefits include a tariff-based lump sum payment to compensate for injury and where appropriate to provide payment to assist with the immediate costs of disablement. For more severe injuries, tariffs 1-11, a further sum is paid in the form of a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) which consists of regular payments to provide a continuous income stream. For the first time, a claim can be made and awarded while still in Service, although when a GIP is awarded in-Service, its payment is deferred until the individual has left Service. Continuing financial support is also available in the form of a Survivors' Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP) for surviving dependants of members of the Armed Forces that have died as a result of Service. Surviving dependants include spouses (husband/wife/entitled partner) and children.

From the beginning of the scheme on 6 April 2005 until 31 October 2005, inclusive, data was held on an interim system held by the SPVA. This was replaced on 1 November 2005 with the Compensation and Pension System (CAPS). Data on the interim system is presented separately to data on the CAPS in Tables 3.22 and 3.23. Due to the limited information available on claims stored on the interim system, Table 3.24 uses CAPS data only.

Claims can be divided into two categories:
Injury claims - made by serving or former members of the Armed Forces for an injury or illness caused by Service on or after 6 April 2005;
Survivors' claims - those made by surviving dependants of former members of the Armed Forces where death was caused by Service on or after 6 April 2005.

Injury claims include:

• In-Service claims - those made by serving members of the Armed Forces;
• Medical discharge claims - automatic considerations referred directly to the SPVA as a result of individuals being medically discharged from the Services;
• Post Service claims - those made by former Service Personnel;
• Additional claims - those made following in-Service, medical discharge, or post service claims, to include additional information not presented in the initial claim.

Survivors' claims include:

• Death in-Service - those automatically referred to the SPVA;
• Death post Service claims - those made by surviving dependants of ex-Service Personnel who died after leaving Service;
• Additional child claims - these claims are made for an additional child who was not included within the initial claim.

Further information on the AFCS can be found in the quarterly official statistic Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Statistics which is published on the DASA website.