Council asked to drop policy that 'penalises' Swindon veterans

Previously military veterans in receipt of war pensions or compensation for injuries and illness acquired in the course of their service would have that income included when calculations for what they should receive in some means-tested benefits like housing benefits or council tax support were made. 

But a recommendation will now be made to the ruling cabinet at Euclid Street to disregard any such payments to veterans when making the calculations.

A motion to full council proposed by Conservative Councillor Lawrence Elliott was passed unanimously in the summer after Cllr Elliott pointed out that compensation payments to civilians who were similarly injured or became ill because of their work were not counted.

Councillors voted that the Build a Fairer Swindon Policy Committee - previously named the Combatting Inequality Committee – be asked to consider how best to do this and to report to cabinet.

Members heard from the head of Revenues and Benefits, Andy Stevens that there were already very few benefits claimants who received such veterans’ payments, although he did say it was impossible to know how many there might be who were not claiming benefits, perhaps put off by the existing system.

The committee agreed to ask Mr Stevens to report to cabinet recommending it ratify the change of policy so that war pensions and injury compensation be simply disregarded.