SPECIAL GRATUITY

The following text was posted on 18/11/2000

SPECIAL GRATUITY.

DEAR MEMBERS,

You will by now, Iam sure, have read the papers or seen on TV. or heard on the radio that the long struggle is now over and that former prisoners of the Japanese are to receive a "Special gratuity" from the British government in place of the "Compensation" from the Japanese, which was fought for over such a long time.

As so many reports are incomplete or inaccurate, I quote below facts from the official press release which will enable you to know just who is eligible and how to claim it etc.

Eligibility payments should be made to those satisfying one of the following criteria on 7th November 2000:

(a) Surviving former members of HM armed forces who were held by the Japanese as POWs in the Far East during the second world war.

(b) Surviving former service personnel who received payments under article 16 of the 1951 peace treaty. These were certain members of the then colonial forces, Indian army and Burmese armed forces.

(c) Surviving members of the Merchant Navy who were imprisoned by the Japanese in the Far East during the second world war for the purposes of this scheme, a member of the Merchant Navy is a person who has been employed or engaged as or for service as a mariner in a British ship.

(d) Surviving civilians who are UK nationals and who were interned by the Japanese in the Far East during the second world war.

(e) The surviving widow or widower of a person who would otherwise have been entitled under category a), b), c) or d) above, providing that they were still married at the time of death.

The government are looking to make payments into an individual's bank account or by payable order and they intend to make these payments as quickly as possible although it will take a little time for appropriate regulations to be made. It is expected that everything will be in place by February.

General information has been featured in the national press. More specific information about the claim process can be given by the War Pensions agency helpline ( free telephone ) on 0800 169 2277 or the WPWS. Information about the claims process is also detailed on the War Pensions agency website: www.dss.gov.uk/wpa/index.htm

In the first instance, the War Pensions agency should be contacted on the freephone number 0800 169 2277 or you can get in touch with the agency through the WPWS the number of which is listed in telephone directories, and a FEPOW gratuity claim form requested. You will initially be asked for your name, address, telephone no. and your national insurance number ( printed on the front cover of your pension book) and whether the claimant is an existing war pensioner or in the case of a Widow whether she receives a War Widows Pension.

Once all of the initial information has been collected the WPA will, where necessary, contact the claimant for further information with a view to processing all claims as quickly as possible.

There will be no time limit applied to applications and legislation will be drafted to allow the ex-gratia payments to disregard other income-related benefits which will not be affected.

There is no right of appeal in the event of an unsuccessful claim but they will review any case when asked.

Extra staff have been recruited to deal with any claims. Extra telephone lines have been made available on the helpline and a dedicated team of staff created to ensure there is no impact on the day-to-day workings of the agency.

The agency will use all the information that it currently holds, or has access to on existing war pensioners, in order to speed up the claim process.

There will be a claim form to complete, available from the WPA helpline.

The Ministry of Defence are responsible for the policy aspects and the War Pensions agency is responsible for the administration of all claims and the processing of payments.

The War Pensions agency holds details of war pensioners who were held captive by the Japanese during the second world war and other documentation which will verify entitlement.

The British government is making this payment in recognition of the unique circumstances of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War.

Far East prisoners faced unique circumstances during their imprisonment,- 50,016 members of the U.K. Armed forces were reported captured by Japan during W.W.II - 12,433 died or were killed in captivity ( equivalent to 24.85% or 1 in 4)

It is an ex-gratia payment because members of the UK armed forces and UK civilians who have suffered at the hands of an enemy in the time of armed conflict have no legal entitlement to compensation from the Crown. This is payment, not compensation, nor is it paid under any legal obligation.

The circumstances of the FEPOWs were and are unique. This payment recognises that fact. The Government hope such circumstances will never occur again.

The National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War Clubs and Associations recently estimated that there were 5,654 FEPOWs and 4,663 widows of FEPOWs still alive.

The ex-gratia payment will not be taxed.

The claim form may be obtained by any of the following methods:

By Telephoning the free WPA helpline on 0800 169 2277.

Writing to The War Pensions Agency, Norcross, Blackpool, Fy5 3wf

Sending an e-mail to "warpensions@gtnet.gov.uk" or

Contacting the war pensioner’s welfare service - see your local telephone directory.

I hope I have covered everything for you, don't spend it before it arrives on your doorstep and you have banked it! Also don't forget all the people who have made this possible and worked so hard for you, the National Federation of Far East prisoner of War Clubs and Associations, (particularly Steve Cairns MBE, and Nick Tolley), 136 Taunton Road, North Petherton, nr. Bridgewater, Somerset TA6 6NN.

The Royal British Legion, 49 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY, the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors Association, Oriel House, Church Green, Witney, Oxon OX8 6HW

Have a fabulous time and enjoy it! GOD BLESS, CELlA.

P.S. I have just been informed that the helpline 0800 169 2277 will be operating from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Amongst the information you are requested to supply will be your (in the case of widows', their husbands') service number. If you cannot remember this or, in the case of widows, never knew it, this information may be obtained by writing with as much information as possible, including your date of birth, to the Ministry of Defence, Defence records, 2b Bourne Avenue, Hayes, Middx UB3 1RF. You will also be asked to supply the national insurance number of the FEPOW which can be found on the front cover of the pension book belonging to the fepow or, in the case of widows, may be obtained from the benefits agency, ref: POW special section, ABP 1101 Benton Road, Long Benton NE98 1YX

SPECIAL MESSAGE -To ALL OUR OVERSEAS MEMBERS.

The policy concerning ex-FEPOWs and FEPOWs widows who live overseas is at the time of sending you this letter. 10th November, being. Decided by the policy unit, we do not know how long this will take.

They will have to decide such things as:- whether the applicant is still classified as "British" or what the situation would be if they have taken out naturalisation papers for the country in which they are now living.

The best and most sensible thing to do is to apply for the "claim pack" .-from D.S.S., Norcross, Blackpool by any of the methods outlined in the letter accompanying this note. Or first dialling 00 44 ( or whatever your overseas code is ) followed by 12 53 86 60 43" which will, apparently,get you through to the Blackpool helpline, or contact the overseas pensions agent through your, local veterans association.

It is quite probable that the policy will have been decided by the time they send you your package.

GOOD LUCK,

CELlA.