Y o u r M o n e y
But be warned – the Conservative Party said that if they returned to Government then they would bring forward the changes to 2016.
National Insurance Credits Parents with dependent children under the age of 12 may be eligible to claim for National Insurance credits, as will approved foster carers and people caring for severely disabled people for at least 20 hours per week. These credits not only entitle you to basic State Pension for the period of eligibility, but for additional State Pension too. If you are in receipt of Carers Allowance, or Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12, you would not normally need to make a claim since your
National Insurance contributions record will be annotated automatically on the basis that those benefits are being paid to you; otherwise a claim will need to be made. If, prior to 6th April, you had already been awarded Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) then that period of HRP will be converted into National Insurance Credits and added to your National Insurance contributions record.
Married Men
Another change that will affect some of you is the ability for married men and Civil Partners to gain entitlement to an increased basic State Pension based on their wife’s, or Civil Partner’s entitlement, just as wives can already. Furthermore, as of 6th April nobody
needs to wait until their spouse or Civil Partner claims their State Pension before they can claim this benefit.
If you would like to know precisely how the government’s changes will affect you or would like an individual assessment of what your pension should pay out; the Forces Pension Society is here to assist. FPS offers expert advice on any Forces pension question, a raft of discounts on insurance and professional services, a dedicated expert helpline and campaigning on behalf of the Forces and their families to ensure that Service personnel receive a pension that truly reflects their extraordinary commitment. For further information please call +44 (0) 20 7820 9988 or go
towww.forpen.co.uk
Compensation Scheme and What it Means for You
The Armed Forces T
he MoD takes very seriously its responsibility to ensure members of the Armed Forces who are injured
as a result of their service get the support they need, and rightfully expect. For this reason, the Defence Secretary announced last year that a thorough review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme would be undertaken to ensure the Scheme is fit for purpose now and for the future.
The Review also looked at the wider package of public sector provision that is in place to ensure Service personnel receive a comprehensive package of support following illness or injury.
The Review was conducted under the independent Chairmanship of former Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral the Lord Boyce. Lord Boyce was supported by a group of independent experts, including senior representatives of: the Royal British Legion, the Confederation of British Service and ex-Service organisations, as well as medical, legal and academic experts, and an injured soldier who has put in a claim for AFCS compensation. The family perspective was provided by the Chairperson of the NFF representing the three Families Federations.
Fundamentally Sound
The Review has found that the AFCS is fundamentally sound and has many aspects
www.raf-ff.org.uk
A new expert medical body will be created to advise on the right level of compensation
that are as they should be. For example, the principle of paying more for the most serious injures, the top level lump sum level of £570,000 tax-free, and the fact the Scheme pays out for all injuries owing to service, including Service-approved sport and injuries incurred during training, was found to be the correct approach. The burden of proof was found to be about right, with some modifications made to assist those who may become ill as a result of their service, or where MoD has not properly maintained records in relation to a claim.
In Need of Adjustment The Review also found that there were some areas that needed adjustment to ensure the Scheme delivers as effectively as it can. Every person who sustained multiple injuries arising from a single incident will now receive some recognition for each injury. The tax free, indexed link guaranteed injury payment (GIP) will reflect, for the most seriously injured, the average number of promotions they are no longer able to receive. All lump sum levels, with the exception of the top amount, will be increased. Time limits to claim will be increased and a new ‘fast’ payment introduced so claimants can receive some compensation without having to go through the whole claim process.
to pay for illnesses that may be caused by service, such as hearing loss and injury to genitalia. The top level of award available for mental illness will be increased.
Communication of the Scheme, what it provides and for who, and how the amounts are calculated will be greatly improved.
The changes to the GIP will feed through into improvements to the amounts paid to Survivors and dependant Children, which are paid when a Service person dies as a result of service.
The Government has accepted all the Review’s recommendations and these will be implemented as soon as possible. Some of the changes will require time to translate the recommendations in to the detail necessary to implement through new legislation. This process will take a little time to complete, most likely around a year.
Exceptionally, no one will lose out as a result of these changes. All those who have already made a claim will benefit from the Review and will be contacted once their case has been reviewed. This will happen after the changes have been implemented through new legislation, which is likely to be early next year.
Summer 2010 33
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