EDM 1152: War Widows/Widowers Pension compensation and medical discharge

That this House is concerned that many widows of service persons who died after medical discharge and subsequently remarried are not entitled to War Widows/Widowers Pension compensation; notes that many widows and widowers of service persons who passed away, including during the Second World War, have rightfully received a War Widows/Widowers Pension to support them after their partner’s death; acknowledges that many recipients remarried following their loss and consequently lost their entitlement; further notes that from 2015, widows and widowers under the War Pension Scheme could prospectively have their entitlements restored were they to become single again and not forfeit it going forwards; welcomes the War Widows Ex-gratia Payment Scheme announced in 2023 that compensates widows and widowers who lost their pensions due to remarriage or cohabitation before 2015; is disappointed that widows of service persons who died after medical discharge remain outside that scheme, and that the UK Government has said it currently has no plans to extend eligibility to claim for an additional period of restored War Widows Pension to those whose family members passed away after medical discharge; and calls on the UK Government to reconsider its policy, so that the widows of service persons who lost their lives after medical discharge can be resupplied with their lost War Widows Pensions.