BROMLEY Council is set to review its policy on including war widows' pensions when calculating benefits after a campaign backed by the British Legion.
Currently, only four local authorities do not totally disregard both war pensioners and widows benefits when calculating housing benefit and council tax rebate.
The borough currently disregards only £10 of war widows' pensions, which has provoked fury among residents and other veterans. Heron Court resident and war veteran Ernest Parker contacted the British Legion and raised a petition, which he presented to councillors with 500 signatures from residents of the borough.
British Legion head of pensions Tom House said: "Our campaign will not be dropped until all war veterans and widows are treated fairly and equally.
"These women are often left to bring up families on their own because their husbands died as a result of serving their country.
This sacrifice should be recognised by the council in the same way as war veterans."
At a meeting on December 12 councillors requested more information before coming to a final decision.
A council spokesman confirmed a decision would be made in February but declined to comment further.
December 20, 2001 11:59
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