Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on your date of birth. You can find out by logging into https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

Our consent form, which can be found on the GWT website: www.gwt.org.uk explains it all. However we advise you to contact the relevant Gurkha Welfare Advice Centre (GWAC) office for more advice - Salisbury: 01722 343 111  or Aldershot:  01252 329460. Our office is open from 0830 – 1700 hrs Monday – Friday.

No, because the policy for mixed age couple changed on 19 May 2019. The younger partner will need to apply online for Universal Credit (UC) as a couple or she will have to find work. Contact our GWAC office for advice.

Yes, only if your PC and Housing Benefit has been stopped.  If only one of the benefits has stopped, you  will need to contact your relevant Pension Service Centre (PSC) to find out why it has been stopped. Also, if moved from one Council to a different Council, you will not be able to claim Housing Benefits even if you continue to receive PC. Seek advice from GWAC.

You need to take the following actions:

Death of partner – inform GWAC, your Pension Service Centre, local council for Housing Benefit, your local GP and bank. Also to inform Records/PPOs. You will need to provide the deceased death certificate.

Change of bank account – inform your relevant Pension Service Centre, local council and utility (electricity/gas/water) companies.

Change of address – inform your GP, bank, Pension Service Centre, local council, and utility (electricity/gas/water) companies and Concessionary Bus pass office. Also to inform GWAC/Records/PPOs.

You are entitled to 28 days leave of absence and you can go abroad as frequently as you like. The day of departure is not counted but arrival date is counted, but this varies from council to council. So, enquire with your council before booking your flight ticket. If a person departs on 20 July, the day of absence will be counted from 21 July. This means they will need to be back in UK on 17 August as the 28th day is counted. You must return within the entitled period of leave otherwise your PC may be stopped.

A. You need to report this prior and after the visit to the benefits office. Before informing the relevant organisations, ensure you have your National Insurance Number, your valid passports/Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card, and your return ticket with you as you will need to provide your departure and arrival date.  If you have an old passport with Indefinite Leave to Remain visa stamped in it, you will need to carry this and your new valid passport.  After the visit, you are also required to report and provided them with a copy of your passport and a page with immigration stamp, stamped at the immigration.

B. You will need to inform the following:

• DWP Pension Service Centre – Before and after the visit by contacting them on 0800 731 0469, Mon to Fri from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm or our GWAC offices: Salisbury – 01722 343111, Aldershot – 01252 329460 who will be able to advise you. Please note that our operating time is  from 08:30 am to 05:00 pm , Mon to Friday. We are closed on Saturday and Sunday and on bank holidays.

• Your Local Council (Housing Benefit)

• Local GP

Before you depart, ensure that you get a DWP contact number from GWAC, as you will need to inform them on such circumstance through GVACs. The following applies to such circumstances:

•  Death of a partner/dependant – up to 8 weeks absence is allowed. You must send a photocopy of the death certificate to your Pension Service Centre, relevant GWAC office in UK, and notify your Gurkha Veterans Advice Centre GVAC) in Nepal. You must return to UK within the stated period, or your PC may be stopped.

•  Serious illness requiring hospital treatment and recovery time – up to 26 weeks of absence is allowed. However, you need to send a doctor’s certificate stating that you are being treated and that you’re recovering in hospital to your DWP Service Pension Centre along with any medication documents. Or if you are registered, you can contact your relevant GWAC office in UK. You must return to UK within the stated period or your PC may be stopped.

By Nepali law, you automatically lose your Nepali citizenship as soon as you acquire foreign citizenship. Therefore, you are advised to use your British passport instead of your visa ILE / ILR which has been replaced with e-Visa. Besides, if you continue to use your visa after the validity date has passed, ticketing agents in Nepal will not allow you to book a ticket, and you may become stuck in Nepal.

The over 80 pension is a State Pension for people aged 80 or over. This is a taxable income and therefore, it will have an impact on other benefits.

You can claim the over 80 pension if all of the following apply:

• You are 80 or over
• You do not get basic State Pension or your basic State Pension is less than that a week
• You were resident in the UK for at least 10 years out of 20 (this does not have to be 10 years in a row)
• You were resident in the UK when turned 80 (80^th Birthday) or any day after.

You can claim it three months before your 80^th birthday through the Job Centre Plus, call the Pension Service on +44 0191 217 7777 and request an application, BR2488. The application is available with GWAC and it can be sent to you by email or post. Once the benefit is claimed successfully, you are required to complete Life Certificate IPC SU 698 annually.

Yes, you can in same way as above or seek assistance from Gurkha Veteran Advice Centres in  Nepal.

Yes, you can but the annual inflation increment that takes place every year in April will not apply. To transfer your benefits, you are required to contact International Pension Centre on +44 0191 218 7777 and make the request. Alternatively, you can seek assistance from GWAC.

You need to be in receipt of another benefit (Pension Credit, Universal Credit etc) to claim housing benefit or if you have low income. The claim can be made at any time as long as you can prove receipt of the benefits stated above.

The most essential document is the tenancy agreement document from your landlord along with your PC Notification (award) Letter. Besides these, you will also need: both partners’ passports, Service Record, AF B108 (known as Lalbook), NINO, any income/service pension statement, and bank details.

You can apply for council housing through your local council but residential requirement must be met which is varied by Council to Council. They will be able to advise you on what you need to do. You will probably be put on a waiting list as council houses are granted on priority needs. Visit: https://www.gov.uk/council-housing  for more information or contact GWAC for advice.

Contact GWAC in the first instance and we will be able to help you to the most essential white and brown goods depending on your financial circumstances. The rest, you will need to buy it yourself.

You will be eligible to claim AA if you are 66 or over and if you have the following:

• You have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness and deaf), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both

• Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety

For further information go to: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility

Yes, you can but as advised by the Home Office, you should convert them to e-Visa by end of 2025.

No. You are required to apply for BRP first and only then you can open an e-Visa account. No BRP card will be issued instead a letter will be sent to your home address.

You can apply BRP on online through the website https://www.gov.uk/transfer-visa to replace your ILE/ILR which is free of charge.

No. From 2^nd of June 2025, this arrangement has been withdrawn by the Home Office.

Yes, you can still use it to open e-Visa account.

You are advised to follow the instructions provided in your account but if it is still not resolved, you can contact GWAC for help.

The main difference between ILR and ILE is as follows:

• ILR – this visa is issued to those who apply for UK Settlement Visa in the UK.

• ILE - this visa is issued to those who apply for UK Settlement Visa from outside the UK.

Your passport will expire but your ILR/ILE visa remains valid as it is for an indefinite period. You will need to apply for a new passport through the Nepal Embassy in London. On receipt of your new passport, you will need to carry both the old and new passport when travelling abroad.

Those who apply for UK Settlement Visa from outside the UK are now given three months visa. Along with the visa, they will also be given a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Notification letter. They need to take this letter and their Identification documents to the Post Office (address of Post Office will be stated in the notification letter) to obtain their BRP within 10 days of arrival in the UK. When travelling abroad, they need to carry their passport and the BRP card which will have ILR written on it.

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/how-to-claim

No, as benefits and grants are only granted for funerals conducted in the UK.

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/how-to-claim  for information.

Speak to your local Funeral Director in your council and they will be able to advise you.

This will very much depend upon your financial circumstances. You should contact your relevant GWAC office, and our advisors will be able to advise you.