War pension for surviving partners and dependants

If your spouse, civil partner, or partner died as a result of their service in the UK Armed Forces, you may be entitled to a war pension or compensation from the government. Two schemes exist, and which one applies depends primarily on when your partner served and when they died. This guide explains both, sets out who qualifies, covers the 2026/27 payment rates, and tells you how to apply.

The most important thing to know upfront: claiming is free, and Veterans UK will help you through the process. If you are unsure which scheme applies to your situation, call the Veterans UK helpline on 0808 191 4218 (freephone, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm).

The two schemes: which one applies?

The key dividing line is 6 April 2005:

• If your partner’s death was caused by service before 6 April 2005, the War Pension Scheme applies – and you may be entitled to the War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension.
• If your partner’s death was caused by service on or after 6 April 2005, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) applies.

If your partner was injured before 6 April 2005 but died later from those injuries, you may still qualify for the War Pension Scheme. In some cases, both schemes may be relevant. Veterans UK can advise on your specific situation.

Both schemes are administered by Veterans UK, part of the Ministry of Defence. You make one claim and Veterans UK decides which scheme applies, so you do not need to work this out yourself before contacting them.

War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension

The War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension is a tax-free weekly payment for surviving spouses, civil partners, and unmarried partners of service personnel whose death was attributable to their service in HM Armed Forces.

Who qualifies

You may be eligible if your partner:

• Died as a result of their service in HM Armed Forces before 6 April 2005 – or died later from an injury or illness that began before that date
• Served as a civil defence volunteer, merchant seaman, naval auxiliary, or coastguard during the Second World War and their death resulted from war service
• Served as a member of the Polish Forces under British command during the Second World War (or in the Polish Resettlement Forces) and died as a result of that service
• Was receiving War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of their death (or would have been if not in hospital)
• Was receiving a War Disablement Pension assessed at 80% or higher, alongside Unemployability Supplement, at the time of their death

You do not need to have been formally married. The pension can also be paid to someone who lived with the deceased as husband and wife, or as civil partners.

(Source: gov.uk – War Widow(er) Pension: eligibility)

What “attributable to service” means

For a death to qualify under the War Pension Scheme, it must be attributable to service – meaning there must be a causal link between the military service and the death. Veterans UK makes this determination based on medical evidence and service records. If the original injury or illness began during service, even if decades passed before death, it can still meet this test.

A helpful feature of the War Pension Scheme is the standard of proof. For claims where service ended before a set date, the benefit of reasonable doubt is given to the claimant: if the evidence raises a reasonable doubt that service caused or worsened the condition, the claim can succeed. This is a more generous test than many other compensation schemes use.

If you believe there is a connection between your partner’s death and their military service but you are uncertain, apply anyway. Veterans UK will assess the evidence and can reconsider their decision if you provide additional medical information.

Current payment rates (2026/27)

War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension is paid weekly and is tax-free. The rate depends on your age, whether you have dependent children, and – for officers – your partner’s rank. The rates below are for Other Ranks and took effect from the payday in the week commencing 6 April 2026, following a 3.8% increase in line with September 2025 CPI.

The age allowance is added to the standard rate once you reach the relevant age. For example, a widow or widower aged 80 on the standard rate receives £188.15 plus the £61.25 age addition.

Children’s allowances are paid separately on top of your pension: £29.55 per week for the first child and £32.90 per week for the second child. Higher rates apply for infirm children aged 18 and over who cannot support themselves.

Rent allowance of up to £70.80 per week may be payable to a war widow or widower who has dependent children, or who is over 40, to help with housing costs.

Supplementary pension of £125.87 per week is available to certain pre-1973 war widows whose late husband’s service ended before 31 March 1973, recognising that older awards were set at lower levels.

Rates for officers are higher and are based on the rank of the deceased. Contact Veterans UK for the applicable officer rates in your case.

Rates last verified: June 2026, from gov.uk – War Disablement Pension rates 2026

Remarriage and new relationships

Whether starting a new relationship affects your pension depends on when your partner left service and when you remarried:

• If you remarried or formed a new civil partnership on or after 1 April 2015, your pension continues – the rules were changed to protect the pension for all war widows and widowers regardless of relationship status.
• If you remarried before 1 April 2015, your pension may have been stopped. However, if your late partner left service before 31 March 1973 and your new relationship began after 6 April 2005, your pension may be reinstated.
• If a new relationship ends through divorce, dissolution, separation, or a further bereavement, a pension that was previously stopped can sometimes be restored.

Because these rules are detailed and depend on dates, it is worth contacting Veterans UK to confirm where you stand rather than assuming your entitlement has ended.

(Source: gov.uk – War Widow(er) Pension)

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)

If your partner’s death was caused by service on or after 6 April 2005, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme applies. AFCS provides three main types of payment to bereaved families: an ongoing income payment, a lump-sum grant, and payments for any dependent children.

1. Survivor’s Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP)

SGIP is an index-linked monthly income payment paid for life to eligible surviving spouses, civil partners, and surviving adult dependants. It is designed to replace, in part, the income your partner would have continued to earn had they not died from service-related causes.

SGIP is set at 60% of a base figure calculated from your partner’s salary and age at the time of death. The exact amount depends on the circumstances of the death and is worked out by Veterans UK – you cannot calculate it yourself in advance.

Two points are important for your finances:

• SGIP is taxable. This differs from the War Widow’s Pension, which is tax-free. Veterans UK and HMRC will treat SGIP as income.
• SGIP is uprated each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and continues for life. It does not stop if you remarry or enter a new relationship, though it may interact with payments from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

2. Bereavement grant (tax-free lump sum)

In addition to SGIP, eligible partners or children receive a tax-free lump-sum bereavement grant. The amount is fixed and does not depend on rank or salary:

The grant is paid once, following the death, on top of the monthly SGIP.

(Source: gov.uk – support after the death of a service person or veteran)

3. Child payment

Where the deceased leaves dependent children, a separate monthly child payment is made for each eligible child. Like SGIP, it is calculated from a base figure linked to the deceased’s salary, it is taxable, and it is uprated each year by CPI. Child payments are usually made until the child turns 18, or up to age 23 if they remain in full-time education.

Eligibility for AFCS survivor benefits

To qualify as a survivor under AFCS, you must have been the deceased’s:

• Spouse or civil partner at the time of death, or
• A surviving adult dependant – broadly, someone who was financially dependent on the deceased and living with them in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership

Claims from a partner are assessed on whether a genuine dependency existed. The death must have been caused by service, and benefits are usually payable only where the death occurred in service or within seven years of service ending. Veterans UK makes the service-attribution decision based on medical evidence.

(Source: gov.uk – guidance on Armed Forces Compensation Scheme legislation)

Funeral expenses grant

Under the War Pension Scheme, there is provision for a funeral expenses grant if the death was attributable to service. The scheme pays up to £2,200 toward funeral costs where the death was service-related, or where the deceased was receiving Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of death.

This is separate from the general Funeral Expenses Payment administered by the DWP, which is means-tested. The war pension funeral grant is not means-tested – it is available regardless of your income or savings.

Include a request for the funeral grant when you make your main claim to Veterans UK, and keep the funeral director’s invoice.

(Source: gov.uk – War Widow(er) Pension)

Support for bereaved families beyond the payments

The Ministry of Defence provides practical support to families when a service person or veteran dies, separate from the money itself:

• Visiting Officers are appointed to support the immediate family when a death occurs in service. They act as a single point of contact in the early weeks, helping with arrangements and explaining what to expect.
• Veterans Welfare Service Managers assist bereaved families of veterans, including helping you understand and claim the benefits you are entitled to. You can ask Veterans UK to put you in touch.
• Veterans UK automatically considers your eligibility for benefits when you make contact, so you are less likely to miss something you qualify for.

If a death in service is being investigated, families may also be supported through the inquest or service inquiry process. Veterans UK and the relevant service can explain how this works in your case.

(Source: gov.uk – support after the death of a service person or veteran)

Other support available

Beyond the war pension and AFCS payments, bereaved families of service personnel may be entitled to additional support:

Armed Forces Pension – separate from the war pension and AFCS, the deceased’s occupational Armed Forces Pension may pay a survivor’s pension and lump sum. This is run by the Armed Forces Pension Schemes team in Glasgow (0800 085 3600), not the war pensions helpline, and needs its own claim.

Council Tax – some local authorities offer discretionary Council Tax reductions for war widows and widowers. War Widow’s Pension is also disregarded as income in many means-tested benefit calculations. Contact your local council to ask whether a reduction scheme applies in your area.

NHS treatment – veterans and their dependants may be entitled to priority NHS treatment for conditions related to service. Contact your GP or Veterans UK for further guidance.

Bereavement Support Payment – if your partner paid National Insurance contributions (or died from a workplace accident), you may also be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment from the DWP. This is separate from the war pension and AFCS, and you can claim both. BSP is worth up to £9,800 at the higher rate.

Widowed Parent’s Allowance – if your partner died before 6 April 2017 and you have dependent children, you may also have been receiving Widowed Parent’s Allowance. This runs alongside the war pension.

Armed Forces charities – organisations including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA, and Combat Stress offer welfare support, financial grants, and advocacy for bereaved families. They can also help you navigate the claims process at no cost.

How to apply

Applications for both the War Widow’s Pension and AFCS survivor benefits go through Veterans UK.

Step 1: Get a claim form

• Download the claim form from gov.uk/war-widow-pension, or
• Call the Veterans UK helpline on 0808 191 4218 (freephone, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm) to request a form by post. The helpline can also advise which form applies to your situation.
• Email: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk

Step 2: Gather your documents

You will typically need:

• The death certificate
• Your partner’s service record details (Veterans UK can help trace records)
• Medical evidence linking the death to service, where available
• Proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, or evidence of cohabitation)
• Your bank account details

Step 3: Submit your claim

Send your completed form to:

Veterans UK Ministry of Defence Norcross Thornton Cleveleys Lancashire FY5 3WP

Step 4: Decision and appeal

Veterans UK will write to you with their decision. If you disagree, you can ask for a reconsideration or appeal to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal (the First-tier Tribunal (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation) in England and Wales). Get advice before appealing – the Royal British Legion and SSAFA both offer free casework support.

There is no time limit on making a claim under the War Pension Scheme. Under AFCS, claims should generally be made within seven years of the death, but Veterans UK can consider late claims where there are good reasons.

(Source: gov.uk – War Widow(er) Pension: how to claim; Veterans UK contact details)

A note on the wider process

Sorting out a war pension is one part of the practical work that follows a death. You may also need to obtain probate or letters of administration to deal with the estate, and to notify other organisations. Our probate guide explains when probate is needed and how to apply, and the free Tell Us Once service notifies most government departments of the death in a single step. For a full picture of the financial support available, see our bereavement benefits hub.

Other bereavement benefits and support

War pensions and AFCS payments are one part of the financial support you may be entitled to. Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for:

• Bereavement Support Payment – a tax-free lump sum plus monthly payments for surviving spouses, civil partners, and qualifying cohabiting partners. Worth up to £9,800 at the higher rate. Separate from the war pension – you can claim both.
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance – a weekly payment if your partner died before 6 April 2017 and you have dependent children. Currently £156.65 per week (2026/27).
• Funeral Expenses Payment – a means-tested DWP grant to help with funeral costs. Separate from the war pension funeral grant.
• Guardian’s Allowance – if you are raising a child whose parents have both died.
• Tell Us Once – a free government service that notifies multiple departments of the death in a single step.

For an overview of all financial support available after a death, visit our bereavement benefits hub.

Summary

If your partner died as a result of their military service, you may be entitled to a tax-free war pension or an AFCS survivor payment – or both. The scheme that applies depends on when the service-related death occurred, with 6 April 2005 as the dividing line. War Widow’s Pension is tax-free; the AFCS combines a taxable monthly income payment with a tax-free bereavement grant of £25,000 or £37,500.

To apply or find out more, contact Veterans UK: 0808 191 4218 (freephone, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm), or visit gov.uk/war-widow-pension.

Do not assume you are not entitled. Veterans UK will assess your claim and help establish whether the death was service-related. There is no charge for applying, and free casework support is available through the Royal British Legion and SSAFA.

Rates and eligibility last verified: June 2026. War Widow’s Pension rates source: gov.uk – War Disablement Pension rates 2026 Scheme eligibility source: gov.uk – War Widow(er) Pension AFCS death benefits source: gov.uk – support after the death of a service person or veteran AFCS legislation source: gov.uk – AFCS legislation