In court on Thursday.

I don't know if anyone here knows but i served for quite along time in the Army.
i saw service in many theatres from sierra Leone to Iraq to south Armagh.
While serving i was injured a few times nothing serious few broken bones fractures in the legs and only got shot twice once in the knee and once in the back just under my shoulder while on one of the many tours i have done i was lucky as not much damage was done as the rounds where quite low velocity but still bloody hurt like hell and i am suffering more now.
Anyway i left the army and was awarded a war pension in 2007 for my injuries as i have been diagnosed with the dreaded PTSD and arthritis etc to knees and i am awaiting 2 knee replacements plus other ailments caused by service..
I have for the last few years been in constant battle with the SPVA and as they awarded me a war pension at 50% and i put in a claim for deterioration as i am in alot more pain have crap mobility and also been to Audley court for treatment with combat stress..had an atos medical at home and was turned down point blank so i have appealed that.The atos doctor never even got me to do a single movement of my legs or anything yet wrote in her report that i have full movement and rotations blah blah etc the whole medical consisted of questions and answers nothing else.

Also only after years of fighting and waiting been awarded the correct ESA from DWP after having to go to court with them as well as i am unable to work but they put me in the work related group and not support group.. i was awarded the correct benefit amount and put into the support group.ESA gets taken off me as i get a war pension so i did not make much difference but at least i don't have to attend work focused interviews..

Anyway i am in court so to speak on Thursday 17th and am lucky to have representation from the Royal British legion war pension specialist as i will not be able to attend as i would not be able to even get into the building due to a anxiety and panic disorder i have along with PTSD.I am preying for a favourable outcome but not holding my breath as it seems the government is happy to spend tens of thousand of pounds to stop you getting ten pounds.

The moral of the story is that when i left the army only then did the real battles begin..its been nothing but fight after fight to get the right support be put into correct groups and get the proper pensions i deserve.

many thanks
AJT

Good luck M8, sounds like some is long overdue!

Good luck M8

Im no expert Pal but isnt ESA in support group is contribution based not income based so you shouldnt lose any of your pension as far as I know.
If your placed in wrag you would keep the 1st £10 of your war pension then lose the rest from esa £1 for £1, if in support group you should lose nothing?

Do you get a sip or sap pension if not you need to apply for that?

(SIP/SAP are Service Invaliding Pension and Service Attributable Pension. Both basically are payments from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 if you were medically discharged from the forces.)

Also if you get your pension can you not apply for a payment for lowered standard of employment instead of esa payable at 40% pension? Talk to SSAFA , legion or welfare services

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/spva_factsheets_09/Factsheet7.pdf

by the way all the best for appeal.

Good luck mate

good luck AJT mate

Hope all goes well my friend.

shaun127 said:

Im no expert Pal but isnt ESA in support group is contribution based not income based so you shouldnt lose any of your pension as far as I know.
If your placed in wrag you would keep the 1st £10 of your war pension then lose the rest from esa £1 for £1, if in support group you should lose nothing?

Do you get a sip or sap pension if not you need to apply for that?

(SIP/SAP are Service Invaliding Pension and Service Attributable Pension. Both basically are payments from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 if you were medically discharged from the forces.)

Also if you get your pension can you not apply for a payment for lowered standard of employment instead of esa payable at 40% pension? Talk to SSAFA , legion or welfare services

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/spva_factsheets_09/Factsheet7.pdf

by the way all the best for appeal.

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I dont know..i have been awarded my deferred army pension now from MOD as they deemed agreed i am no longer able to work.I was told it is hellishly hard to get but i got it a first time of asking.I was not medically discharged from army as i did not want that anyway.. I got repaired and carried on as all i wanted was to be in the army.

I am now in the support group of ESA finally after a court appeal and yes they take only £10 off me.

A war hero and it comes to this utter disgrace, the best of luck to u and i hope if they have any sence to give you the verdict u want, all the best mate let us know how u get on

I am now in the support group of ESA finally after a court appeal and yes they take only £10 off me.

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I dont understand how/why they are taking this from you? you shouldn't lose any imo especially as you were awarded war pension prior to 2009 when they changed the law. Ask the legion or welfare services to look into this for you.

biffo1 said:

A war hero and it comes to this utter disgrace, the best of luck to u and i hope if they have any sence to give you the verdict u want, all the best mate let us know how u get on

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Thanks for your kind words mate..It is wrong and its bloody annoying having to do this and beg and fight for help you have to stop being a proud soldier and try to get what you need or deserve.I never asked or wanted to be this way and wish i could go to work and to earn..i even tried volunteering for a year but had to stop that eventually as the anxiety and panic just took over the whole time and got to a point i was not able to leave my home..or if i did i needed large doses of diazapam to calm me down or i would be wanting to fight everyone due to being so scared all the time and in fear of attack would you believe..

By teh way just t highlight how F88kin useless and uncaring the ATos/gov is , asking a ex squaddie who's arm was blown off if he was right handed

Betrayal of our wounded veterans: ‘I served my country. Then they turned their backs’ - Home News - UK - The Independent

God Luck from me too.

AJT said:

........only got shot twice........

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You deserve a decent pension for that quote alone. Good luck in this battle.
HH.

shaun127 said:

I dont understand how/why they are taking this from you? you shouldn't lose any imo especially as you were awarded war pension prior to 2009 when they changed the law. Ask the legion or welfare services to look into this for you.

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@shaun127 I think what @AJT has said about his money is about right (well, not right in the moral sense but in the rules sense) because this is what is applied as far as Support Group ESA is concerned ::
"Contributory ESA is paid without the Income and Saving Test applied to means-tested benefits. However, Deductions are made for Pension Payments you receive and payments of Permanent Health Insurance. In this case ESA is reduced by half the amount of any payment in excess of £85."
Good Luck with everything AJT, you deserve every penny you get and more in my opinion, but as you say the Civil Service will spend thousands of pounds against the ordinary man just to save a tenner !!!!

Good luck AJT. Anyone who puts their life on the line for others (us) should be allowed to live the rest of their lives in piece n quite and have comfort in knowing the Government and MOD are looking after them.
You should have joined the police fook in hell you'd be rich after what you went through looking at This lot

Good luck mate.

TBh what did you expect? you only served your country,laying your life on the line so others can enjoy there freedom.
Jokes aside i wish you all the best on thursday and for the future,its men like you this country should all ways be proud of and not have to beg to get what you should be fully entitled to and more.

Good luck mate, hope all goes well for you.

AJT Mate, I hope you get your justification mate.
Just goes to show, the more you do for your country the least the authorities/organisations give a shit.
Unfortunately your just another case file, for someone who hasn't a fukin clue what sacrafices you made, which affected you & your closest because of your military life.
These people are heartless and utterly clueless to what really happens within the ranks.
As a ex serviceman myself, civvie street is a world away from what people like ourselves are smothered with when serving.
Again, I hope all goes well for you......:thumbsup:

Suttsy