Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has called on veterans in her constituency to check whether they are owed a deferred Armed Forces Pension.

Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington, and Hill Head is the constituency with the highest proportion of veterans in the UK. However, the latest statistics from the Ministry of Defence state that more than 15,000 pension benefits remain unclaimed. Armed Forces Pensions are not paid automatically, and must be claimed.

Caroline has joined a campaign run by the Forces Pension Society to push as many veterans as possible to check the pension benefits to which they are entitled. On their website the Forces Pension Society has a flowchart where veterans can check their eligibility for a preserved pension.

Benefits may also be due to the partners of deceased veterans.

Preserved or Deferred Pensions were introduced for the Armed Forces from 6 April 1975. A preserved Pension is a term used to define a pension from an Occupational Pension Scheme that is maintained after a service person leaves employment. The Preserved Pension is then payable at the Scheme’s pension age.

Due to changes over time to the criteria for receiving a Preserved Pension, the rule in force at the time a serviceperson left Service is the rule which will apply to them.

Speaking about the deferred pension entitlements, Caroline said:  

“As the home to the highest proportion of veterans in the UK, there will almost certainly be veterans in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head who have not claimed pension benefits that they are eligible for. I’m especially talking about those who left service early and so did not receive an immediate pension.

“The eligibility rules are quite complicated, though, so I recommend those who want to check whether they can claim, to use the Forces Pension Society’s handy flowchart.

“I would also love to hear from you if you are someone who has recently discovered that you are eligible for an Armed Forces Pension.”