War Widow(er) Pension

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Overview

You may be entitled to War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension if your wife, husband or civil partner died as a result of their service in HM Armed Forces or during a time of war.

They must have served before 6 April 2005, but you may be eligible if they died of an illness or injury later.

Eligibility

One of the following must apply. Your husband, wife or civil partner:

  • died as result of their service in HM Armed Forces before 6 April 2005
  • was a civil defence volunteer or a civilian and their death was a result of the 1939 to 1945 war
  • was a merchant seaman, a member of the naval auxiliary services, or a coastguard and their death was a result of an injury or disease they got during a war or because they were a prisoner of war
  • died as a result of their service as a member of the Polish Forces under British command during the 1939 to 1945 war, or in the Polish Resettlement Forces
  • was getting a War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of their death, or would have been had they not been in hospital
  • was getting a War Disablement Pension at the 80% rate or higher and was getting Unemployability Supplement

You may be entitled to a pension if you lived with a partner as husband and wife or as civil partners.

Illness, injury and death on or after 6 April 2005

If your partner was injured, developed an illness or died as a result of service on or after 6 April 2005, you can claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.