Reflecting on a Year of Progress: Our Credit Their Service Campaign in England

John Williams is the Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at the Royal British Legion. He and his team use the evidence from our Policy and Research teams to deliver campaigns and lobby decision-makers to improve the lives of the Armed Forces community.

A year ago, the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland launched the Credit their Service campaign, which sets out to end the unfair treatment of military compensation being counted as income when assessing eligibility for welfare means-tested benefits. This injustice leaves some of the most vulnerable veterans and their families without the support they rightfully deserve.??

Our Credit their Service campaign features in our 2024 General Election manifesto, as one of our priorities for the Government to provide better support for our Armed Forces community.

As we look back on the past year, we celebrate the progress we've made thanks to the efforts of our campaigners, members, volunteers, supporters and Councillor Network members in spreading the word. However, we also recognise that there is still significant work ahead.

Note: This article focuses on the campaign progress made specifically in England, since our campaign looks different in Scotland and Wales. We hope to be able to update you on how our campaign is progressing at a devolved level soon.

Fixing unfairness in the benefits system

150,000 members of the Armed Forces community receive compensation awarded by the UK Government to support with the ongoing costs of an illness or injury acquired in Service.

In late 2022, we found that only one in five British councils (20%) exempted military compensation from all means tests of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support / Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants.

This is because central guidance on how benefits are administered doesn’t require local authorities to exempt military compensation. As a result, there is a lack of consistent support given to those in receipt of military compensation across England, as some councils disregard military compensation whilst others do not.

This has put unnecessary financial strain on veterans and their families who don’t live in councils in England that were already exempting military compensation before our campaign. Some of these veterans are among the most financially vulnerable in the Armed Forces community.

A year of progress

Over the past year, we have engaged at both national and local levels - with MPs, government ministers, and local authorities - to highlight the need for reform. This has resulted in 30 additional councils across England committing to disregard military compensation entirely in their means tests for local benefits.

This progress marks a crucial step toward ensuring that veterans across the country receive the fair treatment they deserve.

The road ahead

While we celebrate these victories, there is still progress to be made.

We will continue to push for comprehensive reform, as many councils still haven’t adopted the necessary changes, leaving veterans still facing inconsistent support. Our goal is to see a nationwide policy implemented that guarantees fair treatment for everyone receiving military compensation., regardless of where they live.

That is why the Credit their Service campaign remains one of our top priorities for the UK Government. RBL will continue to engage with politicians at all levels - local, national, and devolved - to make sure that no veterans or their families face financial disadvantages due to their service.

How you can help

• We’re not done fighting this injustice, and we need your help to keep the momentum going. By joining our Campaigner Community, you’ll stay informed on the latest developments, receive updates on our progress, and find out how you can get involved in supporting this vital cause, as well as other campaigns.
• Ask your MP to help make the Armed Forces community a priority for the UK Government. You can do this by writing to them and asking for their support on our manifesto calls, including our Credit Their Service campaign.
• If you or someone you know has had military compensation counted as income during benefits means tests, we want to hear from you. Your stories are crucial in helping us make the case for change. Please share your story by filling out this survey or emailing us at?[email protected]

Together, we can ensure that those who have given so much in service to our country receive the support they deserve.