ARmy Rumour SErvice

I agree war pensions are appallingly low but what has the minimum wage got to do with it?

O,-- thats an easy answer, For some war pensioners who can not work, and are in recipt of unemployable suppliment allowence, have had to forfit their entire cariers, due to their disability\injury. Thats a hell of a predicament to be in, im sure that you will agree. So to compensate for loss of ernings to some extent at very least. Bringing the rates of pay to match MINIMUM WAGE is NOT a unreasonable request. REMEMBER, some war pensioners are still in their 20s :!: and have to support a family in some cases to boot, and their wifes\partner stays home as well to care for them!

I receive a War Disablement Pension (40%), an Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation and Incapacity Benefit at the highest long term rate. If I lump them all together, it comes to just below the equivalent of forty hours worked per week at the minimum wage. I'm sure that if the War Disablement Pension plus allowance and just those, were raised to that equivalent, the Incapacity Benefit would disappear quicker than Elton John's hair. Of course it might do anyway when I finally have to change over to the fairer (laughs) Employment and Support Allowance some time before 2012.

Remember what they give with the one hand, they're more than happy (and willing) to take away with the other and that has just been made easier as a War Disablement Pension CAN (now) affect other benefits received. If you are in receipt of Unemployability Supplement and I take it it's you, then you must be 60% or more. I do appreciate fully that as pensioners, we are not up there with the likes of former RBS chief executives (I wish) but I do think you're trying to compare apples with pears.

I personally can't see how an hourly rate could be introduced into what is effectively a percentage based sliding scale. We do not have rates of pay, we have a pension plus various allowances or supplements and it's probably best not to confuse the two. They are as alike as Torvill and Dean though not quite as ugly.

I do think a mistake you've made is to think that anybody in HMG or even the next HMG (although they'll say they will) actually care. Bumping up our money does not create votes nor prop up a failing (failed) government. Even if they did (and they don't) any reform of the welfare state and including us will be focused on saving money, not spending quillions more.

I am on your side though you perhaps might have thought so at times and I both sympathize and empathize. I hope you've checked that you are claiming all you can ie Carer's Allowance and any other allowance that might look good with your or your significant other half's name on. Due to many employees having numpty status, not all are correctly informed by said numpties in various civil service filled benefit offices of their proper entitlement.

I suppose I'm just an old cynic with too much time on his hands (hence this load of crap) but I thought that I'd let you know I do understand, even if I don't necessarily agree with you.

Incapacity benefit at the low rates is around £43 per week , anyone on the sick can claim this. as a War Pension percentage it should work a roundabout 30% WP per week.

The lowest War Pension you can get as a weekly payment is a 20% War Pension. This works about £29 per week. However you have to have served in the military and have attribute it to your service to claim it.

But anyone can claim capacity benefit, regardless of the reasons for claiming " example" someone with a drug problem or alcoholic, and still get the lower rate of incapacity benefit or if they've been on it longer get the higher rate around £89 per week.

A War Pension is now means tested, meaning that they will take off you pound for pound, every pound you get your for your War Pension will be a pound off your incapacity benefit.

So yes I do feel War Pensioners are hard done to.


And why should War Pensioners get a lower rate then the lowest rate of incapacity benefit?


So I agree with Alvin,why are War Pensioners on a lower rate.

Originally Posted by themonsstar

Incapacity benefit at the low rates is around £43 per week , anyone on the sick can claim this. as a War Pension percentage it should work a roundabout 30% WP per week.

Not strictly true if the Gov website is to be believed:

If you can't work because of illness or disability which started before 27 October 2008, you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit. This is a weekly payment for people who become incapable of work while under State Pension age.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced on 27 October 2008.

It replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, paid because of an illness or disability, for new claimants only. If you already receive Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to receive it. It is intended that recipients move to the new benefit between 2009 and 2013.

A War Pension is now means tested, meaning that they will take off you pound for pound, every pound you get your for your War Pension will be a pound off your incapacity benefit.

If you would be so kind as to provide a link. The Gov website does mention something but not that it's now means tested:

If you get War Disablement Pension or another payment under the War Pension Scheme, this may affect other benefits you might get, such as Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support.

And why should War Pensioners get a lower rate then the lowest rate of incapacity benefit?

So I agree with Alvin,why are War Pensioners on a lower rate.

And there you totally lost me.

All war pensioners, should get special higher rates of pay, to reflect and for some reconpence for the service that they have given to their country, and in doing so have unfortunetly become disabled. Further more, no war pensioner should have to beg for money from charity organisations, e.g S.A.F.F.A. for money for things like heating, NOT IN THIS COUNTRY. Yes we will remember them, and bloody well look after them! --- For life if nesecery. ---- Its as simple as that.

When I was sent on long term sick I was given a MOD Incapactiy Pre Qualification Form which highlighted the amount of time that I was unable to work (11 months). I sent this in when I applied for ESA but it counted for nothing.

If you are MD'd, the best thing that you can do is to go and see you GP on your FIRST DAY as a civvy and get a Sick Note to say that you are to ill/disabled to work. Regardless of what your intentions are or what your DWP/GIP may be.

I didn't apply for ESA until 3 months after my discharge as I didn't know that I could do so, as a result my lack of Sick Note meant that I can't claim back until the day I was discharged.

The women on the end of the phone just kept saying that just because I can't do the same job as I did in the forces that it doesn't mean that I can't work in Civvy Street. I told her that my army job was a desk job and that had I not been to Ill to work, I'd still be doing it. I sarcasticly said that 'I haven't left a £38k a year job just so I can claim £60 a week in benefits' .

In the end I just gave up.

I may have been wrong , if I said it was means tested, however the government statement shows, they are doing clawbacks on war pensioners.

"If you get War Disablement Pension or another payment under the War Pension Scheme, this may affect other benefits you might get, such as Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support"

I know a few veterans now, who have received a letter from the JobCentre plus,readjusting their benefits because of their war pensions.

My point was about the lowest War Pension, you can get as a weekly income is a 20% War Pension, this comes in at £29 per week, You can only get this if you were wounded or sickness, which is attributed to your service, the lowest part of incapacity benefit is around £43 pound per week.

Why is a war pension tariff lower then incapacity benefit.

However, anyone can claim incapacity benefit, but if you claim incapacity benefit, and you are a war pension, you will lose a percentage of incapacity benefit.

A war pension should be classed as an exemption,in relation to any other benefits received, this ruling also affects any civilian who is in receipt of industrial injuries benefit, who is claiming incapacity benefit will also lose percentage of their incapacity benefit.

Why should you be penalised if you're in receipt of any war pension or industrial injuries benefit after all, you can only get these benefits If you were injured in your workplace.