Public Policy eNews - January 2010

Welcome to our first edition of the Legion's policy eNewsletter for 2010. We hope you find this a useful source of updates on government policy, Legion campaigning and welfare benefit developments.

Politics and Policy

Health care promises to veterans in England
The Government has recently announced a package of measures aimed at improving the healthcare service provided to both veterans and those preparing to leave the Armed Forces. The new measures announced include a guarantee that all those seriously injured will receive an early and comprehensive assessment of their long term needs before they leave the Armed Forces, a regular review of the needs of those with continuing healthcare needs and grant funding of £140,000 for Combat Stress to work directly with mental health trusts to ensure the services provided are accessible to and appropriate for military veterans.

There will also be an improved system for the transfer of medical records to the NHS which will hopefully assist veterans with accessing their right to priority treatment.

The Legion and NHS work together
Remaining on the subject of healthcare, the Legion and the NHS have joined forces to publicise the healthcare services available to veterans. The two organisations have produced an information leaflet that explains exactly what services from the NHS veterans are entitled to and how they can access them. Crucially it outlines the often forgotten right of veterans to priority treatment for Service-related conditions.

The leaflet 'Meeting the healthcare needs of veterans in England' has been sent to every GP surgery in England. It is hoped that this publicity will increase the awareness amongst both veterans and medical professionals of the Priority Treatment Scheme.

Council Tax Benefit to be renamed as a rebate
The Legion's Return to Rationing campaign scored an important victory during November with the passing of the Welfare Reform Act 2009. Section 36 of this Act provides a power to the Government to change the name of Council Tax Benefit to Council Tax Rebate. The Legion lobbied hard for this change and we envisage that once implemented it will help to encourage many older members of the ex-Service community to claim the rebate there are entitled to. There is currently no timetable for the change but we will be pressing this Government, and whichever party forms the next one, to implement it as quickly as possible.

New role for War Pensions Committees
In December Kevan Jones, Minister for Veterans, announced a shake up of War Pension Committees (WPC). They will now be known as 'Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees' and will have a wider remit. Part of this wider scope includes the Command Paper implementation, the Welfare Pathway and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. This has come about after consultations held with the WPCs and the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation. Further information can be found here.

Welfare

Welfare Pathway and national hotline for the Armed Forces
The MoD has launched a pilot scheme known as the Welfare Pathway. This initiative, it is hoped, will improve access to help, advice and benefits for members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families. The first pilot scheme was launched in Kent during November 2009 with Hampshire and Wigan to follow suit in February.

Nationwide provision of the Pathway is envisaged at a later date. Meanwhile a new national helpline telephone number - 08000 22 33 66 – has been established to give callers a single point of contact to direct to the right people to help and advise them.

Protect your property from fraud
The Land Registry has launched a campaign to protect property owners from losing their home due to fraud. People living abroad but with property in the UK or those in long term residential care are most risk. With many of the UK's ex-Service community living abroad this information is of particular relevance to the Legion's beneficiaries.

Fraudsters have been known to impersonate the owner of a property to either transfer its ownership or raise a mortgage on it. The Land Registry are encouraging those with property that they do not reside in to ensure the agency has up to date contact details for them. This will ensure the Land Registry can contact the lawful owner if any application is made on the property. More information is available at the Land Registry website.

Benefit rates for 2010/2011
The government has confirmed the new benefit rates to be introduced the week beginning 12 April 2010. The main changes are the basic state pension will rising by 2.5%, benefits linked to the RPI such as carer's allowance, disability living allowance, child benefit and tax credits, rising by 1.5% and income-related benefits for people of working age will be increasing by 1.8%. The full rates can be viewed here.

Service Attributable Pensions to be disregarded
As of 26 January 2010 Service Attributable Pensions (SAPs) payable under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme will fall within the definition of war pensions which may be disregarded for housing and council tax benefit purposes. Full DWP guidance on this change can be read here.

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
A new-look website has been launched, acting as the MoD's focal point for help and support provided to veterans and their families. Information is available on a range of issues including compensation for those injured or bereaved through Service and special welfare support. New features include an online advice section, taking people through interactive questions to identify sources of help on issues such as housing, money matters and caring responsibilities. Another new section is dedicated to Honour Roll of the Armed Forces Memorial, commemorating those killed by Service in the Armed Forces since 1948.

We hope you continue to enjoy receiving this newsletter but you can use this link should you wish to unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/unsubscribe?id=[memberId]&email=[memberEmail]&memberGroup=2394