The widows of British soldiers in Iraq will not benefit

The basic widow's pension is being increased by a quarter, says the Ministry of Defence.

For families of personnel joining from today, death-in-service benefits go up to four times pensionable pay, compared with one and a half times previously.

The Royal British Legion says it has some reservations about the new system, which introduces a fixed time limit for compensation claims.

The MoD changes include extending benefits to unmarried partners and widening cover to all deaths in service, not just those in conflict.

For personnel on the existing scheme, the death-in-service benefit has been increased to three times pensionable pay, and they have been given the option of joining the new scheme from next year.

The War Widows' supplementary pension has increased by �104 per year, or �2 a week.

And for the first time, servicemen who are injured in the line of duty can get a lump sum payment for 'pain and suffering'.

WAR PENSION CHANGES 2005 Widow's pension to increase 25% Unmarried, including same sex, partners of soldiers killed in action will receive benefit Death in service benefit increased from one-and-a-half times pensionable pay to four times

But the new compensation scheme includes a time limit of five years to make a claim, although there are exceptions for late-onset conditions.

'Fair and transparent'

There is also a change from a policy from needing to show a "reasonable doubt" standard of proof to a "balance of probabilities", which has concerned the Royal British Legion.

At present, unless the MoD can prove beyond reasonable doubt that an injury or illness was not caused as a result of time in service, a claimant receives a war pension.

Defence minister Ivor Caplin said the new schemes were designed to be "fairer, to reflect modern practice and to meet the needs of the armed forces in the twenty-first century".

"It is fair, transparent, simple to understand and offers consistent outcomes, with more focus on the more severely disabled," he wrote in a written statement about the changes to the House of Commons.

The Royal British Legion said it had "reservations about the scheme", but would try to co-operate with the government to make it work.

'Greater burden'

Sue Freeth, the Legion's director of welfare, said it had always been concerned about the introduction a time frame for claimants, and the shift in the standard of proof to a "balance of probabilities".

It is a greater burden for them, and the information may not be easy to get Sue Freeth

"When they submit their claim, they are going to have to be the one demonstrating that there is a need, rather than the other way round," she said.

"We feel it is a greater burden for them, and the information may not be easy to get.

"In particular, people with neurological or complex injuries could find it more difficult to get support during the claiming process."

Mrs Freeth said "one of the impacts is that people in service are likely not to claim".