Outstanding Pensions from WW1

[treetop]

This would not be my first thought but as I have heard of so many feckless individuals claiming in hindsight so can we claim for unpaid pensions from relatives who have given their lives in WW1? My grandmother struggled in poverty for 30 years trying to bring up 4 children and I have seen no sign of her being able to read/write at the time to claim a pension.

[aconnolly]

Treetop

Under the provisions of the War Pensions Act 1921:

Limit of time for making claims to pensions in respect of disablement. "The power of the Minister under any Warrant, Order in Council or Order to grant a pension to any person in respect of disablement shall not be exercised unless the claim in respect of the disablement is made within seven years after the date on which the claimant was discharged or the date fixed under the Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act, 1918, as the date of the termination of the present war, whichever date is the earlier".

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

For purposes of this Act the War of 1914-1918 terminated on 31st August 1921

I do not know the "rules" for widows/dependants pension entitlements if a soldier died after discharge form the Service or after the termination of the war, but as a result of an injury/wound/illness for which they were approved a war pension prior to their death.

Andrew

[aconnolly]

Should add:

Widows were covered by the War Pensions Act, via the "Injuries in War Compensation Act 1914"

Andrew

[Chris_Baker]

As far as I know it was not necessary to claim a widows/dependents pension. It was automatic.

Not so of a soldier's disability pension, which he had to claim. All soldiers being demobilised or discharged were given a form to complete, in order to do so. It is one of the things more commonly seen in surviving service records.

[treetop]

Thanks Andrew and Chris,just me musing at the time. Always thought soldiers and especially their dependents get a a raw deal compared to some heroes of the proletariat !

[aconnolly]

Yes, I'm sure they did at times get put the wringer so to speak. The details on the mechanics of awarding penions for war related injuries are fascinating from a medical point of view. Must have been a huge business administering it as it seems everyone was examined and interviewed etc. on repeated basis with over a million being pensioned in the first few years alone!

Still, at least the medical powers-that-be noted all the various ailments including the nasty effects of gas - pitty those looking at Gulf War Syndrom weren't so "enlightened".......

Andrew