Councillors in Torbay have reaffirmed their commitment and support for the Armed Forces and confirm that veterans are not discriminated against when applying for financial support with housing benefit or council tax.

The Council is also signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, a national pledge to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. In March 2023, a ceremony was held at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone to signify our continued commitment of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Councillor Hayley Tranter, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Inequalities, and Communities for Torbay Council said: “The Cabinet support all serving and ex-serving personnel, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families.

“The Council also acknowledge the ‘Credit Their Service’ campaign and will not discriminate against veterans and will disregard all military payments including War Pension Scheme, Veterans Occupational Armed Forces Pension Scheme, Service Invaliding Pension, Service Attributable Pensions and any supplementary Military Payments.

“We ask residents to inform us if they are in receipt of any of these, as in some cases this may actually increase the level of benefit and support they receive.”

“Whilst this is our standard working practice, going forward we will work with the finance department to ensure that all relevant policy documents have these principles written into them all.