MANY war widows in Bolton will be better off from April.
Council finance chiefs have scrapped the housing benefit rule which meant their war pension had to be included when their benefit was being calculated.
In future, war widow pensions will not be counted as income.
It is estimated that the move will cost the council around £100,000 and will mean around 140 people will receive more benefit. Cllr Bob Howarth, leader of Bolton Council, said: "We are creating a new base from which their housing benefit will be calculated.
"There were a number of options looked at, including disregarding up to £30 or £40 of the pension, but we have decided to disregard all
of it.
Pension payment will no longer be treated as income."
"Pension payment had been treated as income but this will no longer be the case."
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