War Widow(er) Pension

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 Her Majesty’s (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.

See also:

For further information on war widow(er) pension see GOV.UK's website.