Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (a) value of unclaimed armed forces (i) preserved and (ii) deferred pensions; and what steps he is taking to pass those pensions to beneficiaries.

The answer to this question could only be provided at disproportionate cost as all Armed Forces’ pensions would require review and a forecast conducted to confirm they are payable and to give a value.

However, it may be helpful to know that with regards to unclaimed pensions, once a pension reaches 60 working days past the point of being due for payment, proactive attempts are made to trace the pensioner. On receiving a current address, an explanatory letter and application form is sent advising that a pension may be due, and if returned, the deferred pension is put into payment.

Where there is information advising that the individual is deceased, the Ministry of Defence engages to confirm whether there are dependants and then process as normal.