War pensions to be disregarded in the social care means test

But local authorities say that central government must pay

In his budget on Tuesday 15th March 2016, George Osborne announced that the government will legislate to take War Pensions out of the means test for social care.

In its press release of 16th March the Local Government Association said:
"Councils have for some time been calling for the thousands of war heroes injured in combat to be treated fairly and equally when calculating how much they need to pay towards their care. For too long this has been an unfair anomaly that has penalised our injured veterans.

It is not right that some war veterans should be made to use the pension they were given after being injured during their dedicated service to help fund the dignified care they deserve.

We are pleased that the Government has listened to our call for the war pension to be protected and service men and women are not forced to use it to pay for their care.

However, this will create a new burden on councils, which the Government must fully fund. Adult social care budgets are already under enormous strain and should not be expected to absorb further costs resulting from government policy changes."

Austin Thornton commented "I can see the point the LGA is making. If this concession is not government funded, it will only reduce the budget available for other care users. War pensioners will I expect be pleased to see their service recognised but may not see it as fair that such recognition comes at the expense of other disabled people."

 March 2016