Recognition For Bereaved Families
The King’s scroll which was distributed to relatives of the fallen in WWI
The Ministry of Defence has announced plans for a new form of national recognition to honour the families of troops who die on operations or as a result of terrorism.
The decision to commission a memorial scroll and an emblem to wear has been taken by the Chiefs of Staff to recognise families’ losses and honour the sacrifice of their loved ones.
|
“Our Armed Forces demonstrate bravery, commitment and professionalism on a daily basis and as a nation we must continue to show our appreciation. It is equally important that we remember their families who play a vital role in supporting their loved ones serving in the Armed Forces.
“It is a sad but unavoidable reality that some of our brave Service personnel pay the ultimate sacrifice in the name of their country. That is why my fellow Chiefs of Staff and I believe the time is right to recommend a new award for the families of those who die on operations or as a result of terrorism, in recognition of their loss.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff
Detailed consideration will now be given to the design and production of the scroll and emblem. The views of loved ones will be considered as a part of this process. Further details will be announced later this year.
 All Service Personnel killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War are honoured at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Arboretum Staffordshire. For more information visit www.forcesmemorial.org.uk |
|
Forgotten Pensions
In the current climate of credit crunches and the rising costs of living, are your ex-Service clients getting all they are entitled to?
Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces since 1975 and did not qualify for an immediate pension may now be entitled to a Preserved Pension.
Background
Prior to 6 April 1975 there was no provision for a preservation of pension benefits and Service personnel who left the Armed Forces had to have completed 16 years from age 21 (Officers) or 22 years from age 18 (Other Ranks) to be eligible for a pension. Those who left before that date, without completing the above criteria, had no pension entitlement unless they were medically retired.
The rules changed on 06 April 1975 for pensions to be preserved for payment at age 60 for all those discharged over the age of 26 with a minimum of 5 years service. On 06 April 1988 the qualifying period was reduced from 5 to 2 years and the age criterion was dropped in 1978. Preserved pensions have to be claimed at age 60 or at age 65 if service began after 5 April 2006.
|
Early Payment
Preserved Pensions may be paid early, subject to consideration by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), if a Veteran has become permanently unable to work full-time, in any capacity, through ill-health, and this condition will continue until preserved pension age.
Early payment of the pension may be subject to review and stopped if it is considered that the criterion for payment was no longer met.
For more information on preserved pensions visit www.veterans-uk.info
To find out if they are entitled to a pension, veterans should call the JPAC Enquiry Service on 0141 224 3600 or email JPAC@spva.mod.uk |
|
Top of page |
|
Priority NHS Treatment
Under long standing arrangements, war pensioners in England, Scotland and Wales have been given priority NHS treatment for the conditions for which they receive a war pension, subject to clinical need.
This provision has now been extended to all veterans where a person has a health problem as a result of military service. They no longer need first to have applied and become entitled to a war pension. A veteran is defined as someone who has served at least one day in the UK armed forces.
War pensioners will continue to have priority as part of this extended group. This will still be subject to the clinical needs of all patients and the decision of the clinician in charge.
Priority should be given at all NHS hospitals to veterans needing examination or treatment as outpatients or inpatients for conditions related to service, subject to the needs of emergency and urgent cases which must take precedence.
Veterans should make sure that their GP and hospital know they are a veteran in order to be considered for priority treatment.
If a veteran is eligible for priority treatment, they will not be given priority over other patients with more urgent clinical needs. It is for the clinician in charge to determine whether a condition is related to Service and to allocate priority.
Veterans are able to use the NHS complaints system to resolve any breakdowns in the arrangements for priority treatment.
It is important to note that a veteran who has a disorder recognised by the NHS as qualifying for priority treatment, does not necessarily fulfil the criteria for an award of a war pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payment. NHS personnel are not qualified to advise on these schemes. Veterans who wish to discuss eligibility under the schemes should contact the Veterans-UK helpline on 0800 169 2277 to discuss eligibility under the schemes.
Health Authorities in Northern Ireland do not automatically provide priority treatment for ex-Service personnel. Their aim is that all citizens should have timely access to all appropriate treatment.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR
SCOTTISH VETERANS
Partnership and funding opportunities were on the agenda at the Inaugural Scottish Veterans Conference held in May.
The event was co-hosted by Derek Twigg, the Minister for Veterans and Stewart Maxwell, the Minister for Communities and Sport in Scotland who also has responsibility for veterans’ issues. The event demonstrated their shared commitment to tackling veterans concerns and was attended by relevant veterans’ organisations, based in Scotland.
It was also an opportunity to raise awareness of key initiatives that will improve services to veterans: |
• The extension of priority medical treatment in Scotland;
• the plan for one of the UK veterans’ mental health pilots to open in Lothian from September 08;
• £24M extra funding has been provided for Headley Court for the rehabilitation of UK personnel; and
• the Scottish Government’s new veterans’ fund (£40K), to help projects for veterans in Scotland, which is to be launched in 2009.
The conference was a success, in particular, highlighting that the partnership between MOD, the Scottish Government and Veterans Scotland was continually growing and improving. It is intended that another event be held in 2009. |
New Caseworking System available from January 2009
The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisation (COBSEO) and SSAFA Forces Help have joined forces to develop a new electronic caseworking system. It will provide a more coherent, accurate, accountable and common use method of delivering solutions to meet the essential needs of vulnerable serving personnel, veterans and their eligible dependants.
The new electronic Caseworking Management system will streamline, improve and replace the current paperwork-based ’Form A’ system currently supporting 50,000 cases per year.
Using web based technology, the system will be available to all case working and grant making organisations whilst delivering more effective data protection and the reduction of information gathering errors.
lt is anticipated that the system will deliver a 20% improvement rate in delivery time for casework over the existing system.
Veterans WORLD will report on the progress and contact points in a future issue.
|
|
|
Issue 11