At http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/a1-2012.pdf Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular 2012 (attached) it states:

War Pensions

21. Basic War Disablement Pension, War Widow(er)’s Pension and associated allowances will increase from 2012 by 5.2 per cent, reflecting the CPI rate for September 2011.

22. War Pensions will be uprated during week commencing 9 April 2012. As they are not social security benefits, HB Reg 42 (eight)*(for working age) and HB (SPC) Reg 41(9) (for those who have attained the qualifying age for SPC) and CTB Reg 32 (eight)*(for working age) and CTB (SPC) Reg 31(9) (for those whom have attained the qualifying age for SPC) do not apply. They are instead treated as income subject to normal change of circumstance rules. Therefore, as War Pensions will be uprated during w/c 9 April 2012, the effective date of change in HB/CTB will be the following Monday 16 April 2012.

23. Details of War Pension rates for 2012/13 can be found at Appendix E, Annexe 3. Additional information may be obtained from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website: Veterans-UK

I could only find the 2011-2012 rates at Veterans-info so where does this war pension increase of 5.2% come from (seems too good to be true)?

*Should be a figure 8, however it then posts as smiley

Originally Posted by rockape34

At http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/a1-2012.pdf Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular 2012 (attached) it states:



I could only find the 2011-2012 rates at Veterans-info so where does this war pension increase of 5.2% come from (seems too good to be true)?

*Should be a figure 8, however it then posts as smiley

Its the then current CPI rate. CPI being the preference of the Government over RPI as it is marginally lower (on average 1.5% to 2%)

I read somewhere that whilst the CPI rate is used, it has been capped at 5%. The CPI rate for pension increases is taken from September of the previous year if I remember correctly.

It seems odd to me that the serving soldiers would be getting a 1% rise over 2 years whilst war pensioners get 5.2% in 1 year (I'm not complaining as I am in receipt of WP), the last percentage rise was more or less the same as those serving.

@ eodmatt - yes the CPI rate is from September 2011.

Originally Posted by rockape34

I could only find the 2011-2012 rates at Veterans-info so where does this war pension increase of 5.2% come from (seems too good to be true)?

From CPI, what bit can you not read? The rate issued are for 2012/13, not much point updating them whilst they are still being paid (until April 2012). The Government announced it at the Budget debate in November it is the rate as at September. It is not too good to be true it is CPI.

Originally Posted by rockape34

It seems odd to me that the serving soldiers would be getting a 1% rise over 2 years whilst war pensioners get 5.2% in 1 year (I'm not complaining as I am in receipt of WP), the last percentage rise was more or less the same as those serving.

@ eodmatt - yes the CPI rate is from September 2011.

The Pensions are index linked (to the CPI), wages are not, although they do get an annual Increment = 2% or more. In effect serving soldiers will get a 55 increase over two years - before the increased food and accomodation charges kick in.

Shiny

Originally Posted by shiny_arrse

The Pensions are index linked (to the CPI), wages are not, although they do get an annual Increment = 2% or more. In effect serving soldiers will get a 55 increase over two years - before the increased food and accommodation charges kick in.
Shiny

... thanks shiny