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Pensions, Benefits and Compensation

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

War Disablement Pensions & War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension

Benefits

Claims For Compensation

Benefits and Money Advice Service

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) 6 April 2005

If you are serving or have served in the Armed Forces (including Gurkhas), or the Reserve Forces or are a dependant, you may qualify for compensation under the AFCS. The Scheme covers injury, illness and death caused by Service. For those no longer serving, it can give a monthly guaranteed income payment for the more severely disabled. Claims under this scheme must be made within 5 years of the date of the injury/illness.

For more information

Email Claims and please include the date of your initial injury in the Details field.

To apply for help click here

Telephone +44 (0)207 973 7235/7331
Fax +44 (0)20 7973 7360

Pensions & Benefits Department
The Royal British Legion
48 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5JY

War Disablement Pension & War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension

If you served on or before 5 April 2005, you may be entitled to a War Disablement Pension.

Each year the Legion's Pensions and Benefits Department helps a large number of ex-Service people with War Pension claims. Thousands of people in the UK are entitled to a War Pension, but many may not realise that they qualify. Mental illnesses relating to Service are also recognised.

Claim rights

Anyone who considers that their present-day disablement or illness is linked to their Service in the Armed Forces can claim a War Disablement Pension from the Veterans Agency.

You do not need to have served in a war to receive a War Disablement Pension.

Those who served in the Merchant Navy, the Coastguard Service, the Nursing Service and the Home Guard are eligible, as are those who served in the Polish Forces under British command during the Second World War. Civilians or ex-Civil defence workers can also claim, as can the widow, widower, partner or dependant of someone who died as a result of their Service in HM Forces.

Presently there is no time limit for making a claim for a War Disablement or War Widow(er)'s Pension - although pension payments made following a claim are not back-dated.

Each year we deal with thousands of new and on-going War Pension cases and give free representation at Pensions Appeal Tribunal hearings.

We also give advice about War Pension supplementary allowances - Mobility allowance, Unemployability supplement and Constant Attendance Allowance.

For more information

Email Pensions and please include the date of your initial injury in the Details field.

To apply for help click here

Telephone +44 (0)20 7973 7235/7331
Fax +44 (0)20 7973 7360

Pensions & Benefits Department
The Royal British Legion
48 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5JY

Benefits

The Legion's Disability Team offers individual assistance to disabled serving and ex-Service people and their dependants, whether or not their disability is linked to their time in the Forces. Whether the disability is physical or psychological, we can help in accessing and maintaining benefits.

We are dedicated to helping serving and ex-Service people and their dependants, of all ages, with advice and assistance on disability issues. With our in-depth specialist knowledge and well established contacts with other agencies within the disability field, our team has invaluable experience. Advice and guidance is offered from initial Disability Benefit application completion through to Appeal Hearing Tribunals and onto the Commissioner's office if necessary.

Tribunal Representation

The Disability Officer can provide client representation at Appeal Tribunal Hearings in respect of Disability Benefits. This representation should not be confused with the service provided by the War Pensions Team at War Pensions Appeal Tribunal Hearings.

For more information

Individuals, Legion County Field Offices and other agencies can approach the Disability Team

Email Disability

To apply for help click here

Telephone - Disability Team +44 (0)20 7973 7357/7341 Fax +44 (0)20 7973 7360

Pensions & Benefits Department
The Royal British Legion
48 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5JY

Legal Claims For Compensation

Our Compensation Team assists people taking action against the Ministry of Defence. If you have sustained an injury or illness because of negligence by the MoD or its agents within the last three years you may be able to claim financial compensation.

Claim rights

Claims may be possible when injuries have been caused by:

Poorly maintained equipment, vehicles, weapons or buildings
Negligent medical treatment or negligent prescribing of drugs and medicines
The breaking of written rules or orders by the MoD or its agents

If you feel you may be eligible for compensation and would like advice about making a claim, you can get more information by contacting the Compensation Department.

For more information

Email Claims and please include the date of your incident or knowledge of negligence in the Details field.

To apply for help click here

Telephone +44 (0)20 7973 7215
Fax +44 (0)20 7973 7360

Claims Department
The Royal British Legion
48 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5JY

Benefits and Money Advice Service

The Royal British Legion, Citizens Advice and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, have launched a unique Benefits and Money Advice Service in order to help provide better financial advice to the Serving and ex-Serving community, and their dependants.

The three year collaboration, funded by The Royal British Legion and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was launched on December 7 2007, across 18 Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales, with a view to expanding this to 20 in 2008. The Legion also have a team of specialist benefits and money advisers based at Head Office who provide advice and assistance to those areas not covered by a CAB. The service offers advice on a range of welfare and benefits issues, including money and debt advice.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux involved in the project are:
North East - Newcastle, Sheffield Debt Support Unit (part time), Richmondshire
East - Colchester
Midlands - North East Derbyshire, Sleaford
North West - Carlisle, North Liverpool, Chorley, Chester
South East - Portsmouth, Eastbourne, West Oxon
South West - Carrick, Kennet, Exeter
Wales - Caerphilly, Denbighshire
London - Enfield

All other areas are covered by the team at The Royal British Legion’s Benefit & Money Advice Service.