Skip to main content

Armed Forces: Pensions

Volume 489: debated on Tuesday 10 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans have had war pensions withdrawn in each year since 1997; and on what grounds such pensions were withdrawn. (261284)

Information is not available for the whole period mentioned, or in the form requested because reasons for cessation of pension are not routinely recorded. The principal reason for the cessation of a war disablement pension is death.

The following table provides the information that is available.

Numbers of withdrawn disablement pensions by reason and year1

Total

Death

Reason not recorded

Reduction in assessment2

2003

13,630

10,560

3,050

20

2004

13,055

10,240

2,800

15

2005

12,275

9,840

2,415

20

2006

11,535

9,535

1,985

15

2007

11,050

9,295

1,745

10

January to September 2008

8,125

6,840

1,280

5

1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 for data protection purposes. Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals.

2 The claimant was originally awarded at a disablement percentage of 20 per cent. or more and the disablement percentage decreased to below 20 per cent. following re-assessment on review or appeal.

In addition, rounded to the nearest five, five beneficiaries under the War Pension Polish Forces Scheme have lost their pension on return to live in Poland.