Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are in receipt of the war widowers recognition payment by (a) constituency and (b) regiment.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Following its launch on 16 October 2023, 249 applications were approved with more than £21 million awarded under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme. Over 70 per cent of applications were submitted in the first three months, while only 14 claims were submitted in 2025.
Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme on 15 October 2025 as outlined at its inception.
Information relating to the constituency of the widow(er) and the regiment of the individual whose widow(er) has received payments under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of war widowers eligible for the war widowers recognition payment received the payment in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
While the exact number of individuals eligible for the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not known, the number of payments made under the Scheme between its launch on 16 October 2023 and closure on 15 October 2025 is shown below.
2023 | 0 |
2024 | 237 |
2025 | 12 |
Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme, as outlined at its inception.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the closure of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme on 15 October 2025, what the final number of (a) applications received and (b) successful payments made was; and what his Department’s assessment is of the final uptake rate against the initial projected eligible cohort.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113.
The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the recipients of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme by (a) nation of the UK and (b) the branch of the Armed Forces in which their late spouse or partner served; and if he will provide a list of the regiments or corps of the recipients.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113.
The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.