That the ‘Armed Forces’ section of the Housing Assistance Policy be amended to read as follows (amendments shown in Bold):

“Armed Forces Independence Payments (AFIP) as with the civilian equivalents, are ignored as income as for the purposes of DFG means-test and should be treated as receipt of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments at the enhanced rate. These criteria are set by government as part of the means test criteria for the grant.

Due to the unique obligation and sacrifice of danger for serving and veteran military personnel, any lump sum payments received through military compensation as well as military war pension all payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 2005, War Disablement Pension Scheme, Service Invaliding Pensions and Service Attributable Pension will be disregarded as part of the Disabled Facilities Grant means test.

All other aspects of the means test conditions still apply where a client does not receive a passporting benefit.”

To provide clarity that all military compensation payments will be disregarded when assistance is sought for improvements and adaptations to an individuals home.

There was no alternative option considered.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 12 December 2023 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

At the meeting of the Cabinet on 21 November, Members approved the Housing Assistance Policy and granted delegated authority to the Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities to make minor amendments to the Housing Assistance Policy as required.

As such the Director of Adult and Community Services has exercised this authority and amended the Housing Assistance Policy as set out below.

None.