War pensions committees

I115War pensions committees and armed and reserve forces compensation schemes

1

Section 25 of the Social Security Act 1989 (establishment and functions of war pensions committees) is amended as follows.

2

After subsection (1) insert—

1A

The regulations may give the committees functions relating to one or more of the following—

a

war pensions;

b

war pensioners;

c

AFCS benefits;

d

AFCS benefit recipients.

3

In subsection (2)—

a

omit the words from the beginning to the second “and”,

b

for “it shall be their function” substitute “ it is a function of a committee ”,

c

in paragraph (a), for “connected with war pensions or affecting war pensioners in their area and, where they think” substitute “ connected with war pensions or AFCS benefits or affecting people in its area who are war pensioners or AFCS benefit recipients and, where it thinks ”,

d

in paragraph (b), for “to them by persons receiving or claiming war pensions and, if they think” substitute “ to it by people receiving or claiming war pensions or AFCS benefits and, if it thinks ”,

e

in paragraph (c)—

i

for “them” substitute “ it ”, and

ii

for “they” substitute “ it ”, and

f

in paragraph (d), for “war pensioners in their area” substitute “ people in its area who are war pensioners or AFCS benefit recipients ”.

4

After subsection (3) insert—

3A

The regulations may provide for the committees to have names specified in the regulations (as well as being known as war pensions committees).

5

In subsection (4), before the definition of “war pension” insert—

AFCS benefit” means a benefit payable under an armed and reserve forces compensation scheme established by order under section 1(2) of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004;

AFCS benefit recipient” means a person in receipt of an AFCS benefit, in the person's capacity as such;