Aged Veteran Denied His Fuel Allowance
by admin on Nov.11, 2009, under Historical Heroes
Now really. The local government should be ashamed of itself.
Bob McGowan with his medals
Bob McGowan was told he could not claim the £300 subsidy because he moved into his flat just one day too late to qualify.
Despite his age and the six years he spent fighting for his country across Europe, Asia and Africa, the Pension Service said it could not show flexibility.
Mr McGowan, of Portsmouth, has been waging a battle of principle with Whitehall ever since he was turned down for the fuel support in 2007.
He wants an apology from Gordon Brown and says if it is not forthcoming he will post his five medals to 10 Downing Street.
Mr McGowan, who won the Burma Star, the Africa Star, the War Medal 1939 to 1945, the 1939-1945 Star and the Defence Medal following 2,133 days on active duty overseas, said: ‘I think it’s disgusting.
‘It seems I’ve got to bow down over one solitary day, when I did six years overseas.
‘You’d think they would make allowances but they keep saying external factors won’t be considered under any circumstances.
‘What hurts me is I that did all that time overseas and they ignored it – they think more of one solitary day.
‘I’ll hold on to my medals if Gordon Brown will apologise, of course.
‘But if I don’t get satisfactory answers I will send them. I’d like this saga to end. It’s two years and I have had enough of it.” (DailyMail.co.uk)
It’s shocking that his local authorities are adhering so strictly to the rules. McGowan was only one day off from the deadline. It seems like harsh treatment for such a heroic man.
