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<p /> <p><strong> </strong></p><p>My Department takes its ongoing responsibilities
under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously. Good progress has been made in some
key areas.</p><p> </p><p>DWP officials play an active part in the Armed Forces Covenant
Reference Group, which brings together officials from across Government with a number
of service organisations. DWP also has a nominated Armed Forces Advocate who is responsible
for ensuring that the needs of service personnel, their families and veterans are
properly catered for by the Department. This means ensuring that these groups are
not disadvantaged as a result of military service, and providing special treatment
where appropriate.</p><p>Every Jobcentre district has an “Armed Forces Champion”,
who works with the Career Transition Partnership, and also links with providers and
charities giving specialist support, such as the Royal British Legion.</p><p>DWP has
ensured that War Disablement Pensions and guaranteed income payments made under the
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will be fully disregarded in calculating an award
of Universal Credit. Working with the Ministry of Defence we introduced the Armed
Forces Independence Payment to provide financial support to service personnel and
veterans seriously injured as a result of service to cover the extra costs they may
have as a result of their injury. And we have ensured that ex-service personnel can
have early access to the Work Programme.</p><p> </p><p>These are just some examples
of how DWP is meeting its obligations to the Armed Forces Community through the benefits
system and support in finding employment.</p>
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