Becoming an In-Pensioner
To be eligible for admission as an In-Pensioner, a candidate must be a former non-commissioned officer or soldier of the British Army who is:
1. Over 65 years of age.
2. In receipt of an Army Service Pension or War Disability Pensioner for Army Service which you would be required to surrender upon entry to the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Please note that if your Army Service or War Disability Pension is less than £150 per week (the average amount an In-Pensioner surrenders) you will be required to 'top-up' to that amount, providing it does not place you in financial difficulty.
3. Free of any financial obligation to support a spouse or family
Also eligible for admission are any former officers of the British Army who meet the criteria above, provided the served for at least 12 years in the ranks before obtaining a commission.
Making a trial visit
Upon application, eligible pensioners are invited to come for a Four Day stay at the Royal Hospital. The pensioner
arrives on a Monday morning, when they are met by a Four Day Stay Sergeant who looks after them for the duration of their stay, and returns home on the Thursday. They use these four days to learn about the way of life at the Royal Hospital and whether or not it would suit them. And of course, the Royal Hospital also needs to check that life as a Chelsea Pensioner would suit the applicant!
During their Four Day Stay applicants stay on the Long Wards and eat their meals in the Great Hall with the other residents. They will meet the Physician & Surgeon, Matron and Chaplain and also have a lengthy interview with the Adjutant. The Four Day Stay Sergeant (who is also an In-Pensioner) takes the applicant on a guided tour and explains how life within the Royal Hospital works.
Joining the Royal Hospital
On admission to the Hospital the In-Pensioner surrenders their service and/or disability pensioners in return for board, lodging, uniform and medical care. If the total pension surrendered is less than £150.00 per week, the In-Pensioner is required to top-up to to that amount.
Being a Chelsea Pensioner
In-Pensioner can come and go as they please with no restrictions on their day to day lives. They are encouraged to wear the practical blue uniform within the Royal Hospital and the areas around, although they may wear civilian clothes outside the Royal Hospital and when the grounds are closed to the public. On all official occasions they wear the famous Scarlet coats, complemented for ceremonial events by Tricorne hats.
When in Scarlet, Chelsea Pensioners are immediately recognisable and are an important part of the London scene. Many tourists like to stop and chat and many even want to take a photo! Chelsea Pensioners meet an amazing array of people both inside and outside the Royal Hospital, and are invited to and are guests of honour at many events, ceremonies and Royal occasions.
The grounds of the Royal Hospital are magnificent and the architecture beautiful, which makes it a wonderful place to live. The In-Pensioners have their own Social Centre which includes a fully licensed club, a Post Office and Souvenir Shop, putting and bowling greens, handicraft workshops, allotments and a library at their disposal.
Many active In-Pensioners like to keep busy by working as tour guides or helping in the museum, shop, library and grounds.
Reverting to Out-Pension
An In-Pensioner may elect to leave the Royal Hospital and return to civilian life at any time. Upon reversion his or her service and/or disability pensions are restored. Likewise, any In-Pensioner who is discharged by the Commissioners for misconduct also has his or her pension restored. Any In-Pensioner who voluntarily leaves the Royal Hospital may reapply for admission at any time, however readmission is subject to vacancies and it may be necessary to repeat the admissions process.
Contact
For more information regarding In-Pensioners and becoming an In-Pensioner, please call the In-Pensioner office on 020 7881 5204 or to go to the Application Form, click here.