A DISABLED former soldier from Gravesend says he is happy the council is going to stop penalising residents who receive war disablement pensions.

Former army officer Nicholas White, 46, of Goodward Crescent, supported a two-month Royal British Legion campaign calling for Gravesham Council to stop taking war pensions into account when calculating housing benefit and council tax payments.

Last Tuesday, campaigners were celebrating their success when Gravesham Council announced it was going to introduce a "full disregard" of war disablement pension and war widows' pensions from next April.

It has been one of only 19 councils, from 410, to only partially disregard the pension and only ignored the first £40 of the pension when calculating benefits.

The full disregard, to come into place from April 2003, means residents who receive those pensions in Gravesham, will pay less council tax and be entitled to more benefits.

This is good news for former class one warrant officer Nick White.

The 46-year-old, who became disabled during an army exercise in Germany, in 1978, now receives a war disablement pension.

The father-of-two, who worked for the Royal Logistics Corps, said: "I am very pleased because Gravesham Council was the only council in Kent not to disregard war pensions when calculating benefits.

"I served my country for 23 years, which is half of my working life and I don't think I deserve to be penalised for it.

"When this comes into force next April, I expect to be better off, financially."

Leader of Gravesham Council Rosemary Leadley said: "I am very pleased to announce we will make good our commitment and deliver on our promise.

"Gravesham Council has a good working relationship with the Royal British Legion and this development will help to strengthen our relationship."

Head of pensions for the Legion, Tom House, said he was pleased the council has changed its mind.

"We welcome what is definitely a just decision by Gravesham Council and one which reflects the feelings of many local people who have been demanding respect for their veterans."

July 9, 2002 12:00