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MP CLAIMS WAR PENSIONERS LOSING OUT ON NHS BENEFITS

September 10, 2009 9:31 AM

Former armed services personnel in receipt of War Disablement Pension (WDP) and War Widows Pension (WWP) are unfairly losing out, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Roger Williams has claimed, because almost all their pension income is included in means-tests carried out to establish their rights to NHS benefits, while other non-means tested benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), are completely disregarded from the calculation.

In an answer to a Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions from the MP for Brecon & Radnorshire, Minister of State Jonathan Shaw confirmed that only a 10 disregard is applied to payments of WDP and WWP, even though neither benefit is means-tested.

Commenting on the disadvantage suffered by WDP and WWP claimants, Mr. Williams said:

This is clearly an unfair situation, which was brought to my attention by a constituent who receives WDP, but recently has had to pay substantial amounts for NHS eye tests and spectacles, because his WDP raises his income above the level at which patients have to start paying for those services. In his reply the Minister lumps WDP and WWP in with means-tested benefits, such as Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit, when in fact WDP and WWP are non-means-tested. This is patently unfair and a shabby way to treat former service personnel disabled in the service of their country.

I shall be taking this matter up with Ministers when Parliament returns in October and will be seeking support across the House of Commons for the Government to introduce regulations to allow WDP and WWP to be completely disregarded in means tests done to establish claimants eligibility for NHS services and all benefits.

End

Contact: Roger Williams MP on 01874 625739

Text of Mr. Williamss Parliamentary Question and the Ministers answer can be found at:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-07-20a.286405.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g286405.q0

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