Guidance

Appeal a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation decision

What you need to do if you think our decision is wrong.

From:
Ministry of Defence and Veterans UK
Published
19 February 2020
Last updated
616 AprilOctober 2023 — See all updates

Overview

Most decisions under the War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Schemes have an appeal right. The letter telling you about the decision tells you if you can appeal.

If you are unhappy with the decision and you think there are some facts Veterans UK may not have known when we made our decision, you should contact us and ask for the decision to be looked at again. For decisions made under the War Pension Scheme we will call this a review and for decisions made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme we call this a reconsideration.

If you did not receive the reasons for decision and you would like an explanation, please write to Veterans UK at the address below.

Veterans UK
Ministry of Defence
Norcross
Thornton Cleveleys
FY5 3WP

If you have the reasons for decision and you are still unhappy with the outcome you can appeal to an independent tribunal, although if your decision was made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, the law says we will need to reconsider the decision before an appeal can go ahead.

You have 12 months to appeal from the date of your decision letter.

The actions you must take depend on the date the decision was made and where you live.

If the decision was made on or before 5 April 2023 and you live in England, Wales or overseas

You can either complete an appeal form or write to us stating:

  • your name, address and member/national insurance number
  • the name and address of any representative
  • an address where documents can be sent (this will normally be your home address)
  • the date and details of the decision you want to appeal against
  • why you disagree with the decision
  • sign and date your correspondence.

Process Map

Guidance on the Appeals customer journey will help you understand how we process your appeal.

To view the accessible version please select the download option.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Appeal (appeal preparation) Customer Journey (PDF, 405 KB, 1 page)

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Appeal (appeal preparation) Customer Journey (accessible version) (ODT, 24.6 KB)

War Pension Scheme Appeal (appeal preparation) Customer Journey (PDF, 408 KB, 1 page)

War Pension Scheme Appeal (appeal preparation) Customer Journey (accessible version) (ODT, 24.6 KB)

All Appeals (after tribunal hearing) Customer Journey (PDF, 412 KB, 1 page)

All Appeals (after tribunal hearing) Customer Journey (accessible version) (ODT, 24.4 KB)

Appeal form

If the decision was made on or before the 5 April 2023 and you live in England, Wales or Overseas Download and fill in the form below.

War Pension and AFCS notice of appeal form

PDF, 9851 KBMB, 11 pages

The form comes with notes telling you how to fill it in and where to send it.

If you cannot download or print the form, phone or email the Veterans UK helpline to ask for a copy.

Freephone (UK only):0808 1914 2 18
Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043
Email veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk
Normal Service 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday

If the decision was made on or beforeafter 6 April 2023 and you live in England, Wales or overseas

You can either complete an appeal form or write to The War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (address below) stating:

  • your name, address and member/national insurance number
  • the name and address of any representative
  • an address where documents can be sent (this will normally be your home address)
  • the date and details of the decision you want to appeal against
  • why you disagree with the decision
  • sign and date your correspondence.

Appeal form

If the decision was made on or after the 6 April 2023 and you live in England, Wales or Overseas you can download an Appeal a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme decision: Form WPAF1

Please send the appeal form or your letter to:

The War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber,
Arnhem House,
Leicester,
LE1 8FE.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You must complete an appeal form:

You should receive a letter confirming we have received your appeal. If you do not receive this, you should contact us to check we have received your request.

Late appeals

If you appeal after 12 months you must explain why you (or someone on your behalf) did not appeal within the 12 months.

The Tribunal will consider your reasons and may extend the time limit up to a further 12 months.

After you have appealed

The War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Tribunal explains what happens after you have appealed which includes information on:

  1. Preparing for your hearing.

  2. What happens at your hearing.

  3. If you lose your appeal.

If you need help

You can contact any of the service charities or support organisations who can provide guidance and offer personal representation at appeal hearings.

If you need an appeal form sending or have any further questions, phone or email:

Veterans UK
Ministry of Defence
Norcross
Thornton Cleveleys
FY5 3WP

Or

The War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber,
Arnhem House
Leicester
LE1 8FE.

Armedforces.chamber@justice.gov.uk

Freephone (UK only):0808 1914 2 18
Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043
Email veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk
Normal Service 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday

Published 19 February 2020
Last updated 616 AprilOctober 2023 + show all updates

  1. Included the customer journey maps on the appeals preparation process for Armed Forces Compensation Scheme appeal, War Pension appeal and all appeals after tribunal.

  2. Updated to reflect the changes to the Appeals/Direct Lodgement rules from 6 April 2023.

  3. Included guidance on the customer journey for appeals tribunals

  4. Included attachments explaining the WPS & AFCS appeal (appeal preparation) customer journey.