War Pensions

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Firstly apologies to those already "in the know" and I'm not trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs...but,

When I left the service a million years ago, I attended a financial briefing to (a) Get some advice on investing my hard earned cash and (b) to get a couple of hours away from the office. Anyway I was astounded to hear that a WAR PENSION was not just for soldiers who had served and been injured in the time of war, but was for all servicemen who had injuries and ailments attributable to their service . For example: Osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles, lower back pain syndrome and re-occuring problems from injuries collected along the way. (all common to infantry soldiers particularly in the days of running only in boots) At the time I recall my knees were a bit sore and my ankles creaked a bit but hey it goes with the job right? Well I applied, was examined and recieve a war pension. Some thirteen years on I have had surgery on both knees (3 in all) and one to my shoulder. At some stage I will require knee replacement. Anyway my point, (no sympathy please) I have spoken to a number of ex-servicemen who have never even heard of a War Pension let alone apply! It is there, you are entitled to it (medical examination accepted) and you should apply. For those nearing the end of their service, you may feel that you have no problems but believe me old age does not arrive on its own and those minor discomforts do get worse. Preaching over, if anyone wants to know any more before applying feel free to message me and I will help as much as I can. Nick

[Dai72]

Hi Gwyn

Same old injuries. If your injuries get worse, you can ask for a re-assessment on your injuries. Michelle works for the new name 'Service Personel ansd Veterans Agency' on 02920 228189 and she can give advice.

Best Wish's

Dai

[sox3044]

thanks, gwyn,and Dai, i have just finished my service back in june. I had my final medical back in feb, with both dodgy kness and hearing from the Mortar Pl days i was refered for a specialists appointment that i still havnt recieved. Any advice on what lines to go down at present. I am working abrord at the mo and only get home every 10 weeks, and dont realy know who to get in touch with my civi doctor still hasnt recieved my docs from the army either. Hope your knees still allow you to play golf gwyn, if its any inspiration i saw a guy playing with 1 arm the a few months back what an inspiration. Hope the reffing's going well dai.

[Lofty-25]

Sox, when i came out, i applied straight away and from when i first sent the forms back and to the time i received my war pension, was a total of 14 months, whether things have speeded up since then i could not tell you, do you also know that you can apply for LSO (lower standard of occupation), not being able to to the same sort of employment in civvi street as that in the army, but if you are in receipt of any means tested benefits (income support) then the amount you have received from Income Supprt will be deducted from your war pension before you receive it (another way to take well earned money from those who have served)

Hope this helps in some way

[sox3044]

thanks very much for that lofty thats another avenue i can look at, guess i could say i couldnt go to iraq and had to settle for half the wage doing an easy job in kuwait. Thanks m8 il give it a go.

[scottlawson]

Lads,
Those that know me, will know I had a number of discolations of the shoulder and a hearing op. I recieved a sum short of 10k. 6 mths from aplication to payout.
I applied through the British leigon(service related injuries). Sox, I also was working away. Just booked the medicals they wanted for when I returned. Depending on the percentage of the injury, It will be paid either one off, weekly or monthly. If it was caused by the service and it is documented you will be fine. Hope this helps

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Sox, when i came out, i applied straight away and from when i first sent the forms back and to the time i received my war pension, was a total of 14 months, whether things have speeded up since then i could not tell you, do you also know that you can apply for LSO (lower standard of occupation), not being able to to the same sort of employment in civvi street as that in the army, but if you are in receipt of any means tested benefits (income support) then the amount you have received from Income Supprt will be deducted from your war pension before you receive it (another way to take well earned money from those who have served)

Hope this helps in some way

Hi guys. Please note that you may only apply for LSO if you are in reciept of a war pension at the rate of 40% or more. You will only find out the rate at which you will be assessed after your initial application, medical and decision of the Board. Nick

[Dai72]

Hi Sox

Give michelle a ring when u get home, she can advise u.

has for the refereing, have reached the dizzy heights of the Welsh Prem again and was in the middlw Neath v Glam wand last sat. Even got a BBC Wales. Also at present No1 in CS.

Best Wish's

dai

[hefin2616]

Hi Sox,

I first applied for my war pension July last year after I was taking to a guy who made a claim. He explained to me the proccedures I needed to go through. I firstly got in contact with the Royal British Leigon, and to tell you truth they were'nt much help on the matter. I secondly got in touch with the Gulf veterans agency, and to say it the where brilliant. From start to finish of the claim it took about 6 months. They knew I worked abroad and booked all medicals needed for my time off in the UK. So my advice would be to drop them a line and see where you go from there.

EO-VA-Ops-Gulf@veteransagency.gsi.gov.uk

Hef 16

[sox3044]

thanks very much for that hef, im on a mission.

[zak]

when i left the army i joined the local branch of comrades at wrexham and within 2 months a lady from the dhss turned up to give a talk on what ex servicemen are entitled to when they leave the services if they suffer with an injury later on in life that may have been caused whilst serving in the forces as far as i know she attended quite a few times

[Clive Rees (08)]

Firstly apologies to those already "in the know" and I'm not trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs...but,

When I left the service a million years ago, I attended a financial briefing to (a) Get some advice on investing my hard earned cash and (b) to get a couple of hours away from the office. Anyway I was astounded to hear that a WAR PENSION was not just for soldiers who had served and been injured in the time of war, but was for all servicemen who had injuries and ailments attributable to their service . For example: Osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles, lower back pain syndrome and re-occuring problems from injuries collected along the way. (all common to infantry soldiers particularly in the days of running only in boots) At the time I recall my knees were a bit sore and my ankles creaked a bit but hey it goes with the job right? Well I applied, was examined and recieve a war pension. Some thirteen years on I have had surgery on both knees (3 in all) and one to my shoulder. At some stage I will require knee replacement. Anyway my point, (no sympathy please) I have spoken to a number of ex-servicemen who have never even heard of a War Pension let alone apply! It is there, you are entitled to it (medical examination accepted) and you should apply. For those nearing the end of their service, you may feel that you have no problems but believe me old age does not arrive on its own and those minor discomforts do get worse. Preaching over, if anyone wants to know any more before applying feel free to message me and I will help as much as I can. Nick

Thankyou Gwyn, this post was very helpful.
I have been out for a long time and thanks to Dai 72 I am now in the process of applying for a War Pension.

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Hi Gwyn

Same old injuries. If your injuries get worse, you can ask for a re-assessment on your injuries. Michelle works for the new name 'Service Personel ansd Veterans Agency' on 02920 228189 and she can give advice.

Best Wish's

Dai

Cheers Dai, I have already done so on one occasion and the system works very well. A second examination another board and a re-assessment of entitlement. Nick

[simon john amblin]

Hi lads, Ex RRW but the same probs....bad knees! Left the army and was never told I could claim. Anyway was tipped off, made a claim, the claim was accepted as attributable to service. Was given three and a half grand and a 6 - 14% disability rating...not enough for a monthly pension. This was back in 1993. Didn't realise that you could be re-assessed until this year. Should tell you I had surgery on my left knee whilst serving in Lemgo (You oldies will know where that is). Anyway 13 years later....in a hell of a lot more pain and discomfort, but as an old soldier you just get on with it! Just been re-assessed....they gave me between 6 - 14%!!! Unbelievable....they just don,t want to part with that money! Gone down the appeal route, but I doubt I,ll get anywhere with it. Any tips would be nice. cheers

[rolli25]

PS you get free prescriptions for your ailments if you have 20% or more disability.

My local chemist wont even charge me for prescriptions that are nothing to do with my dodgy knees hands back etc. but i think they have got this wrong

[stu reed]

Hello Gents,

Just one for those planning on leaving, with an ailment, you are entitled to photocopy ALL your medical records, as long as you ask the RMO first etc. This should make any claims easier as they would other wise have to go and dig 'em out in Glasgow, hence the time frame. You will then have at hand everything you need for claims and if needed for legal matters.

Stu "Ollie" Reed

currently sipping Rum and Coke in sunny An Najaf. Shades

[simon john amblin]

You get a "Green Card" even if you have less than 20% disability. As far as I am aware ALL perscriptions are now free

[Keith Jones 989]

Free Prescriptions:

Wales and Scotland have 'free' prescriptions. England does not.

Those of us living in England who are awarded a disability rating by the MOD will be entitled to free prescriptions for treatment of our particular disability - for example, if we have been rated by the MOD as suffering from the prescribed minimum level of hearing loss (industrial deafness, as most of us do?) we will be entitled to free medicine to treat any problems which might arise with our ears - earache; hearing aids etc, but we would NOT be entitled to free prescriptions for painkillers for, say, a bad back, NOR will we be entitled to free beta blockers if we develop a heart problem after leaving the service.

Finally, you don't need to be in receipt of any form of medical or war pension to qualify for the free prescriptions for your particular disability, but you MUST have that magic certificate of disability from the MOD (and if you ever lose the one they give you they say they won't give you another one!).

Weird, isn't it?

Why is there anybody left living in England?

[rob jones 60]

ITS never to late to put in for a war pension . my uncle was a capt in the Glosters in korea during his service his Bren gun carrier was blown up .. he made a clam back in 1999 for his hearing and was awarded a full pension attributed to the incident in korea all those years ago ..so if you had any mishaps while serving you would be wise to fill out the forms and see what you are entitled to clam ..

[chow]

thanks for that glyn could you pm me the details..same old dodgy knees lower back ect. its worth a try..

[mogs22]

Hi Gwyn.
Being an old campainer like yourself I also suffer with athritis of the knees, back problems also shoulder pains.But having worked in heavy industry(mining) would I still be entitled to proceed with a claim.
Many thank's for the info regarding this subject.
Regards.

Allan Morgan 22 (doyle) Don't bug me boy.

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Doyle me old mate, I know better than to bug you . Remember the escape and evasion on the JNCO's Cadre.? We got to the end and some guy stood on top of the hill and said "got you" .I cant put down your reply as it will be all @##'#@## but he soon scarpered muttering " no need to be like that I'm only doing my job" Great days.

Anyway there is only one way to find out mate. Obviously if you have any registered injuries with the the mining work then in all probability it will be taken into account along with a host of other things such as injuries registered during service. Go to the Social Security office , ask for a claim for a war pension. The form is pretty much self explanitory but once you have it give me a shout. I will then send you a personal message with more details. Once your form is in, it will take some months for anything to happen (about six to eight months is the feedback i am getting at the moment.) Your claim , if successful will be backdated to the time of application so you lose nothing in waiting. Whatever the outcome you are entitled to claim and stand to lose nothing ! Hoppy is the latest success so you might want to have a word with also. Good luck mate and like I said, come back to me when you have the form. Finally, you do not need to go through any "third person" ie The Royal British Legion to do this and it may indeed cause the process to take longer. Cheers. Nick

[Dai72]

Mogs give my wife Michelle a ring she works for the new name 'Service Personel ansd Veterans Agency' on 02920 228189 and she can give advice

[Bob Bacon]

Mogs give my wife Michelle a ring she works for the new name 'Service Personel ansd Veterans Agency' on 02920 228189 and she can give advice

Dai

Do you think Michelle would agree to run an 'online clinic' for such queries in the chat room one night?

[mogs22]

Gwyn.
I am so gratefull for the info and help you have offered. I'll get on to it soonest. I've just heard from Hoppy41, so I'll give him a ring . On a short note I wish I had my time in front of me again, I would not have been so wild .
Anyway hope you are well and thank's again.

Regards Allan 22

[kev99]

Guys..

When in the Bn had a disagreement with a Wombat Shell and the RP staff "think you all know what happened". about 16 months down the line i had major surgery and lost my right Kidney, since being out i have been down the pensions route went all the way to an appeal and received nothing for the injury...

The guys at the appeal came up with the conclusion that i was born with this injury, however i have gone back 2 generations and no-one in the family has had Kidney problems.

Just wondering if anybody has had the same result as me and if there is anymore i can do......

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Kev, a difficult one this. However if the board came to the decision that you were born with the problem rather than it being caused by injury, there must be some medical proof of that arising from the operation. I personally would request that that information is made available to you and your GP if only so that he (GP) is aware of the problem and can monitor you for any further problems. (It may be better if the request comes from your GP) If as they say, you were born with the problem, I can see no reason why they should not be forthcoming with the information. If they refuse to supply the information for you and your GP then I would suggest speaking to the Royal British Legion or a Lawyer. Good luck mate.

[Bob Bacon]

Dai

Do you think Michelle would agree to run an 'online clinic' for such queries in the chat room one night?

Good news! Michelle has agreed to host an 'On-line Clinic" to answer any questions you may have about war pensions. Michelle works for the newly named 'Service Personnel and Veterans Agency'

Michelle will be in the Chat Room on Wednesday, 11 June at 20:00. You will have to be logged into the forum in order to enter the Chat Room. The link can be found on the Menu Bar Chat Room (http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/userplane_vbulletin_plugin.php?)

Video and Audio are available for those that have web cams and mics

Would those of you that already have questions pending, please PM them to either Dai Williams 72 Dai72 (http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/member.php?u=63), or me, so that any research that might be needed can be undertaken by Michelle beforehand.

[Gwyn Nicholas]

A Forum member has asked me a question about war pensions so I have raised this post again for him and others to view.

[evbach]

Hi Glyn.

Many thanks for this very interesting thread. Could you PM me the details? I have a few niggles that are starting to get worse these days.

Aide