Written question asked by Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 23 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 October 2003. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Thursday, 30 October 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rights members of the armed forces (a) have and (b) have had to backdate their pensions if they were not informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services; and if he will make a statement; under what circumstances a former member of the armed forces who has not collected their pension from the first date at which there were entitled to it can receive backdated payments; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what rights members of the armed forces (a) have and (b) have had to backdate their pensions if they were not informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services; and if he will make a statement; [134920] (2) under what circumstances a former member of the armed forces who has not collected their pension from the first date at which there were entitled to it can receive backdated payments; and if he will make a statement. [134921] Mr. Caplin: Members who have not claimed their pension entitlement on leaving the armed forces, or have not claimed when their entitlement becomes due, have a right to receive payments backdated to six years, in line with the Statute of Limitations Act 1980. However, Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury may authorise that payments be backdated further, depending on the merits of each case. Payments are usually backdated in full and are always so where non-payment was due to a mistake on the part of MOD.

Secondary information