About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID's benefits range. You will find it useful if you have a hearing loss as a result of military service or wartime experiences. We use the term 'deaf' throughout to refer to all types of hearing loss.

In this factsheet we will answer these questions:

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, which began on 6 April 2005, replaces the war pensions scheme, but only for disablement or injuries that occurred on or after 6 April 2005. For more information, see our factsheet "Armed forces compensation scheme".

If your deafness (or any other disability) was caused by service before 6 April 2005, then you can still claim a war disablement pension.

What is the war pensions scheme?

This scheme gives money to ex-service personnel for any disablement caused by service. It is run by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

You may be entitled to a War Disablement Pension if you were:

Widows or widowers of war pensioners may be eligible for a war widow's/widower’s pension in particular circumstances.

What is priority treatment?

In 1953, hospitals run by the Ministry of Pensions for the treatment of war pensioners were transferred to the NHS. The government at the time gave an undertaking that there would be priority examination and treatment for war pensioners in NHS hospitals. However, this was only "for the condition or conditions for which the war pensioners received a pension or gratuity."

Over the last 14 years, we estimate that around 100,000 veterans have been told they have damaged their hearing serving their country and will not get a pension or 'lump sum' payment for this. Like others, they then have to wait up to two years for digital hearing aids on the NHS. This is because, in the past, the government has said veterans can only have priority treatment for a condition for which they receive an award.

However, as a result of our campaign for deafened veterans, the veterans' minister, Derek Twigg, announced in parliament in June 2007 that priority treatment now applies to all medical conditions due to service, "irrespective of whether they result in a pension."

In November 2007, health secretary Alan Johnson gave an assurance that health authorities and NHS Trusts would be aware of the changes. He said, "Under long-standing practice, war pensioners have had priority NHS access, but that has not always been fully understood. I want to make sure that everyone understands the current provisions and expand the eligibility for priority treatment in the NHS to veterans who may not yet have claimed a war pension."

I am a deafened veteran – how do I ensure I receive priority treatment?

If you have been told that your hearing loss is due to your time in service by the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency (formerly known as the War Pensions Agency) or another government agency, then you should inform your GP and your audiology clinic to make sure that you receive priority treatment.

To do this, contact the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency (SPVA) and ask them to send you a Priority Treatment letter.

It might be useful, or even necessary, to have a letter from the agency stating that your hearing loss is due to your time in service.

It will take time before health authorities become aware of the new policy. If you are told that you are not eligible because you have not received a pension or gratuity, please let us know.

Veterans can use the NHS complaints system to resolve any alleged breakdowns in the arrangements for priority treatment. This includes ultimately asking the Health Service Commissioner to investigate their case.

Can I claim a war disablement pension if I am deaf?

You can claim a War Disablement Pension if your deafness is the result of military service or wartime experiences. Your deafness does not have to be caused by active service or combat for you to qualify. For example, if your hearing loss was caused by an injury sustained on a military base, or by an ear infection linked to service, you can still claim.

The kind of deafness you have will affect your claim. There are two main kinds of deafness:

To qualify for a weekly War Disablement Pension you must be at least 20% disabled from deafness. You will be assessed as 20% disabled or more if your average hearing loss in each ear at 1, 2 and 3 kHz is at least 50 decibels (dB).

If you have conductive hearing loss, resulting in less than 20% disablement, you will be paid a lump sum known as a 'gratuity'. Conductive hearing loss can have a number of causes, such as a severe blow to the head, an explosion or an ear infection.

If you have sensorineural hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noise you will not receive any gratuity or pension if your disablement is less than 20%.

If you have tinnitus, which is 'part and parcel' of your noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss, but your hearing loss alone is less than 20%, you will not receive a pension or gratuity. (Tinnitus is the word for noises that some people hear in the ears or in the head – buzzing, ringing, whistling, hissing and other sounds.)

How do I make a claim?

You need to fill in a claim form. You can download a form from the SPVA or write to them and request a form by post. Most ex-service organisations will also be able to offer you help and advice on how to complete your claim form.

Is there a time limit for claiming?

Ex-service personnel

For ex-service personnel there is no time limit for claiming, but it is important to make your claim quickly. If you claim within seven years of leaving the forces, it is up to the SPVA to prove that your deafness is not linked to your service. After seven years it is up to you to prove that your deafness is linked to your service. War pensions are normally paid from the date of claiming. Backdating is only possible in specific circumstances.

Civilians

If you are a civilian, you can claim if you received any war injuries due to enemy action between 3 September 1939 and 19 March 1946. You must claim within three months of the injury or onset of deafness. This three-month limit may be waived in exceptional circumstances.

What happens next?

Audiogram chart showing disablement percentages

	Worse ear 50-53 dB	Worse ear 54-60 dB	Worse ear 61-66 dB	Worse ear 67-72 dB	Worse ear 73-79 dB	Worse ear 80-86 dB	Worse ear 87-95 dB	Worse ear 96-105 dB	Worse ear 106+ dB
Better ear 50-53 dB	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36
Better ear 54-60 dB	22	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
Better ear 61-66 dB	24	32	40	42	44	46	48	50	52
Better ear 67-72 dB	26	34	42	50	52	54	56	58	60
Better ear 73-79 dB	28	36	44	52	60	62	64	66	68
Better ear 80-86 dB	30	38	46	54	62	70	72	74	76
Better ear 87-95 dB	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	82	84
Better ear 96-105 dB	34	42	50	58	66	74	82	90	92
Better ear 106+ dB	36	44	52	60	68	76	84	92	100

What is the difference between an 'interim assessment' and a 'final assesment'?

If there is a possibility that your hearing loss, due to service, may change in future, the doctor will make an 'interim assessment'. If further change is unlikely the doctor will make a 'final assessment'. The SPVA can give you more detailed information about the assessment process.

How much will I get if I am eligible for a war disablement pension?

Your disablement assessment will affect how much pension you get. From April 2008 the 100% rate of a War Disablement Pension is £145.10 per week and the 20% rate is £29.02. The rates change every April and you should contact the SPVA for up-to-date information. Have a look at their leaflet "Rates of War Pensions and Allowances (external link, opens new browser window)".

Am I entitled to war pension allowances and supplements?

In addition to a basic war disablement pension you may be entitled to the following war pension allowances. Contact the SPVA for further information.

Unemployability supplement

You must be under 65 years and be receiving a War Disablement Pension at the 60% rate or more. You must also be unable to work as a result of your condition.

War pensioners' mobility supplement

You must be getting a War Disablement Pension at the 40% rate or more. You must also be unable, or virtually unable, to walk because of your condition.

Constant attendance allowance

You must be getting a War Disablement Pension at the 80% rate or more and require personal help due to your service disability. The allowance is paid at four different rates depending on how much help you need.

Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

You must be getting Constant Attendance Allowance at one of the two higher rates.

Severe disablement occupation allowance

You must be getting Constant Attendance Allowance at one of the two higher rates, and have a job that pays more than the therapeutic earnings limit.

Lowered standard of occupation allowance

You must be under 65 years and getting a War Disablement Pension at the 40% rate or more. Your disability must also make you permanently unable to do your normal job or work of an equivalent standard.

Clothing allowance

You must be an amputee or wear your clothes out quickly because of your condition. Your war-pensioned allowance must be assessed at 20% or more.

Comforts allowance

You must be getting Unemployability Supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance.

Age allowance

You must be at least 65 and at least 40% disabled. The rate you get depends on your degree of disablement.

Do I need to have paid national insurance contributions to get a war disablement pension?

No. A War Disablement Pension is non-contributory, which means that you do not need to have paid national insurance contributions to get it.

Is a war disablement pension means-tested?

No. Your level of income or savings does not affect your claim.

How does a war disablement pension affect other benefits?

A War Disablement Pension may affect other benefits you receive:

What can I do if I disagree with a decision?

You can appeal against certain decisions as follows:

You have six months to appeal against most decisions and three months to appeal against interim assessment decisions. However, late appeals can be accepted up to 12 months after the end of the time limit if the delay was caused by special circumstances.

Your appeal will go to an independent tribunal. The members of the tribunal are not from the SPVA or any part of the Ministry of Defence. The chairman will be legally qualified and other members may be chosen according to the type of appeal. The tribunal can only look at the law and the circumstances at the time the decision was made. The tribunal cannot look at changes of circumstance that happened after the decision was made. If a change of circumstance could affect your pension ask the SPVA for a review.   

Assessment appeals

These apply if you are disputing your disablement assessment. A tribunal made up of a lawyer, a doctor and someone with service experience will hear your case. You can choose to be present at the tribunal. The tribunal may want to give you a medical examination. There are facilities for them to do this in private.

Entitlement appeals

These apply if you are appealing about other qualifying issues. A tribunal made up of a lawyer, a doctor and someone with service experience will hear your case. You can choose to be present at the tribunal.

Where can I get further information?

Royal British Legion

Royal British Legion Scotland

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)

War Pensioners' Welfare Service (WPWS)

Our Information Line offers a wide range of information on many aspects of deafness and hearing loss. Contact us for further copies of this factsheet and our full range of information factsheets and leaflets.

RNID Information Line

RNID Information Line, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk 

RNID Tinnitus Helpline

RNID Tinnitus Helpline, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 0808 808 6666
Textphone: 0808 808 0007
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: tinnitushelpline@rnid.org.uk
Website: Tune out Tinnitus website (external link, opens new browser window)