A group of local Armed Forces veterans received welcome news this week as Renfrewshire Council bosses closed a legal loophole affecting their care costs.
The council’s Leadership Board agreed this week to disregard War Disablement Pension income when calculating client contribution to non-residential social care costs.
Renfrewshire Council currently provides social care for 28 veterans who receive the pension.
Council backing will also be given to a Poppy Scotland campaign for national legislation to change so that the pension entitlement is also disregarded when assessing residential accommodation charges.
Paisley Town Hall hosted a Veterans’ Roadshow on Wednesday 16 September as the council looks to raise the profile of veterans support.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan said: “A few years ago, we signed a Community Covenant with the Armed Forces – a pledge of mutual support – and it’s important to translate that pledge into meaningful action helping those who have served.”
“Fully disregarding War Disablement Pension when calculating care costs is absolutely the right thing to do and since Poppy Scotland approached us, we’ve looked to do this as soon possible.
“Unfortunately, we can’t close the loophole completely on residential care costs because the treatment of income in calculation of costs is prescribed in national regulations, but we will support Poppy Scotland in their campaign to have these regulations changed.
“Together with our neighbours in East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, we employ a dedicated Veterans Support Advisor from an Armed Forces background and a lot of great work is being done across all three councils to make sure veterans of any age get the help and support they deserve.”
More information about the veterans support service is available at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/firmbase