The London Borough of Barnet has scored well on a new interactive map, showing how councils across England treat military compensation when administering means-tested benefits.
The map shows that Barnet completely disregards military compensation, when veterans are assessed for benefits eligibility, meaning veterans and their families will not miss out on anything in their payments.
Benefits including council tax support, housing benefits, disabled facilities grants, and discretionary housing payments are all paid out by local councils.
The map has been launched by the Royal British Legion as part of their ‘Credit their Service’ campaign, which demands an end to the unjust treatment of military compensation as income by welfare benefit means tests.
Cllr Kamal Gurung, Barnets Armed Forces Champion said: “The council is committed to our Armed Forces community, and it is positive to see that Barnet has scored well on this new interactive map.
“We are a council that cares for our people, and it is extremely important to us that military and civilian compensation should be treated the same.
“There is a significant Armed Forces presence in Barnet who live and work in the borough, and we continue to strive to ensure that they are well supported, and that we are meeting the needs of those who serve, and who have served and their families.”
In November 2021, Barnet re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.