The unfortunate consequence of military service is the possibility of injury in war or other service duties. Though a regrettable event, there are various benefit schemes in place to help those who become injured. One of these is the War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance (WPCAA). In this article, we’ll look at this benefit in depth. Carry on reading to discover more.
What Is the War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance?
The War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance (WPCAA) is a financial benefit extended to those injured while in service. To qualify for it, you must already be receiving the War Disablement Pension (WDP) at a high rate and require attention and daily care due to a disability or injury caused by your presence in the military service.
There are 4 different payment rates linked to the degree of care required. We’ll discuss them further in the article.
Eligibility Criteria for WPCAA
Those with a War Pension rate above 79% and needing regular care due to their injury or disabilities are eligible for the WPCAA. These payments could be used to pay for carers or others who assist. Care could be assistance from another person with things such as:
- Eating
- Dressing
- Washing
- Shaving
- Taking medication
- Using the toilet
Care could also involve prompting from someone else to complete these activities. However, the following activities are not considered care:
- Cleaning the house
- Meal preparation
- Cooking
- Shopping
Those receiving the WPCAA could also be entitled to other allowances.
Can You Lose Your Right to WPCAA?
Suppose you are taken into hospital and receive hospital care (for free) for more than 4 weeks. In that case, WPCAA will stop from the 28th day of admission until discharge. If discharged but readmitted within 28 days, the new days spent in the hospital will be added to those already spent in the institution.
Should you go into a care home funded by the local authority, the WPCAA payments will stop from the 29th day of admittance to the care home.
Change of Circumstances
Any changes must be reported to Veterans UK. Changes include personal details like name, bank details, address, and telephone number. Other changes that must be reported are:
- Deterioration or improvements in health
- Prison sentences
- Receiving other forms of compensation
How To Make a Claim
To claim, fill in the Claim Form WPS003CAA. You can email or phone Veterans UK to get the application form sent by post. Veterans UK can also be contacted to obtain help completing the form.
As part of the application, the claimant is required to provide personal information such as:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- National Insurance Number (NIN)
Details of the applicant’s doctor, the medical condition and the treatment received need to be disclosed. Finally, the form requires attendance requirements (such as help with dressing, shaving, etc.). The form must be printed off and completed in black ink.
The application claim cannot be sent by email; the completed form needs to be sent by post to:
Veterans UK
Norcross,
Thornton-Cleveleys,
Lancashire,
FY5 3WP,
United Kingdom.
What Documentation Is Required?
You do not need to submit any documentation with the application because Veterans UK will be able to locate your War Disablement Pension details through personal information such as name, address, and National Insurance number. However, the Ministry of Defence and doctors working with the association may contact hospitals, doctors, or anyone who has provided treatment for further information on the medical condition.
Obtaining Help with the Application
If you require any help with completing the application, contact Veterans UK. Veterans UK is an agency that is part of the Ministry Of Defence. The easiest, and fastest way to reach Veterans UK is by email or telephone. The email address is veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk and their helpline phone number is 0808 1914218.
War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance is not too different from regular Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA). However, while CAA is aimed at people who become injured in the workplace, WPCAA is for veterans from military forces.
Payment Rates
The claimant could be entitled to one of 4 rates based on the severity of the condition. The possible payout rates and how much a person can receive per week are listed in the table below:
| The Rate | Weekly Payment Amount (in £) |
| Exceptional | 166.20 |
| Intermediate | 124.65 |
| Normal maximum | 83.10 |
| Part-time | 41.55 |
Exceptional is the higher rate of all the payments. Like all benefits, the payments are paid directly into the claimant’s bank account. You can expect to be paid every 4 weeks and backdated to the date when the application is made.
Cost and Processing Time
Following the submission, Veterans UK will assess the application. In cases of injury or death, they are responsible for providing welfare support, pension, and compensation to service personnel and veterans.
The application will be processed within a few months at the most depending on the extent of the assessment required. If the application is successful, the applicant can expect to receive payments for the remainder of their life. However, if there is a change in the medical condition in the future, these changes should be reported, and it may affect the payments.
Like all benefits in the UK, there are no costs involved with making the application.
How To Appeal
If you disagree with the outcome, you can ask for a review. This may have happened because there is some information Veterans UK was unaware of at the time of the decision. In that case, you should submit the new details for them to examine.
Following a reconsideration process, if the outcome is still unsatisfactory, it is possible to go to an independent tribunal. You can learn more about the review and the independent tribunal process here.
Applicants have a 12-month window to appeal from the date of the decision.
War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance for Military Veterans
Those veterans who became severely injured in service and claiming the War Pension at 80% or over are entitled to the War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance. The payments cover the additional help a veteran may require from others in their day-to-day activity. Thanks to such benefits, veterans have the means to cope with the hurdles they face and lead a more wholehearted life.
