Supporting veterans
Veterans' Health Care Supplement
Nick is a returned serviceman, but is not eligible to receive a Service Pension.
As part of the pension reform, the payment of allowances will be simplified as the Pharmaceutical Allowance and the Telephone Allowance are incorporated into a new Veterans' Health Care Supplement.
Nick will be eligible for the higher rate of Veterans' Health Care Supplement, and from 20 September 2009 the supplement will be paid fortnightly at a rate of $12.
Assistance to veteran pensioners
Pensioners who receive the Veterans' Service Pension and Income Support Supplement will benefit from the increases to pension payments. Under the new arrangements the Government will provide an additional:
- $32.49 a week for single pensioners on the full pension
- $10.14 a week for pensioner couples (combined) on a full pension.
This brings the single rate of pension up to two‑thirds of the combined couple rate.
Other assistance for veterans
The Government recognises that not all veterans receive the Service Pension or Income Support Supplement. For these veterans, the Government will simplify the payment of allowances by incorporating the Pharmaceutical Allowance and Telephone Allowance into a new Veterans' Health Care Supplement.
The Veterans' Health Care Supplement will be paid fortnightly from 20 September 2009. There will be two rates of payment — $156 per year where only one of either the Pharmaceutical Allowance or Telephone Allowance is received; or $312 per year to replace both allowances.
The Service Pension qualifying age will remain at the current level (60 for men, and progressively increasing to 60 for women).
