Torbay MP and Lib Dem spokesperson for Work and Pensions, Steve Darling has secured a meeting with a government minister to discuss the Royal British Legion’s campaign “Credit their Service” which advocates for fair treatment of those in receipt of Military Compensation within the UK welfare system.
In parliament this week, Steve called upon the government to look at the issue and has secured a meeting with a minister.
The “Credit their Service” campaign seeks to change how military compensation is treated within the UK welfare system. Currently, 80% of local authorities factor in military compensation when determining benefit eligibility. The campaign argues that this is unfair to veterans and their families, potentially costing them thousands of pounds in benefits annually. Their primary goals are to have military compensation excluded from Pension Credit assessments and to ensure consistent policy across all local benefits. The campaign enjoys broad support from various groups, including veterans, charities, and MPs.
Steve said: “Twelve months ago, Lib Dem colleagues and I were able to get the local Torbay authority to disregard military compensation when calculating disabled facilities grants for veterans. I now want to build on that success by supporting this campaign.
“I am pleased that the government is engaging with me on this subject. I absolutely agree with the RBL that the current system is unfair and in urgent need of reform.
“Securing a meeting with the relevant government minister is of course just the first step. But I hope they will continue to engage constructively so we can make the RBL’s campaign a real success.”
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