Allowances

There are a number of allowances to which veterans, war widow/ers and their dependents may be entitled.

The range of allowances available to veterans is:

Attendant Allowance;

Clothing Allowance;

Recreational Allowance

Decoration Allowance;

Loss of Earnings Allowance;

Recreation Transport Allowance;

Temporary Incapacity Allowance;

Vehicle Assistance Scheme;

Attendant Allowance

This may be paid to an eligible veteran to assist with the cost of an attendant to help with such things as feeding, bathing, dressing and the other activities of daily living.

Attendant Allowance is payable at a higher and a lower rate from war or defence-caused conditions. The higher rate, for example, is paid to a veteran who is blinded in both eyes together with total loss of speech or total deafness. Other criteria apply.

The Attendant Allowance is paid to the veteran not the attendant. Attendant Allowance is not payable if the veteran is cared for at public expense in a hospital or institution, or if Centerlink is paying a carer's pension in relation to the veteran. Other criteria apply.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make an Attendant Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Attendant Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 72.

The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia can assist any veteran of any conflict, their widow/er's and children by providing advice and assistance in regard to all pensions matters. Simply contact your nearest sub-branch.

Clothing Allowance

This may be paid to an elegible veteran to help offset the cost of modifications, or for war and tear damage to clothing resulting from war or defence-caused disabilities, or treatment of those conditions. Clothing allowance may be paid at the high, mid or low rates.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Clothing Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Clothing Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 73.

Decoration Allowance

This is paid to a veteran who is paid disability pension and who received an eligible decoration awarded for gallantry during a war or warlike operations covered by the Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Decoration Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Decoration Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 74.

Loss of Earnings Allowance

This compensates eligible veterans for salary, wages or earnings lost while receiving treatment for war or defence-caused disabilities or while attending appointments required to investigate a claim for disability pension. It may also compensate the veteran's authorised representative or attendant assisting in these matters.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Loss of earnings Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Loss of Earnings Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 75.

Recreation Transport Allowance

This may be paid to veterans suffering from sever war or defence-caused disabilities (such as amputations or blindness) to promote their access to recreational activities. The disablement must be permanent and the veteran must be able to incur transport costs (for example, a bed-ridden veteran would not be eligible).

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Recreation Transport Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Recreation Transport Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 76.

Temporary Incapacity Allowance

This is payable to an employed veteran who has undergone hospital or other institutional treatment for a war or defence-caused disability and has been off work for a continuous period of at least 28 days. The 28 days commences from the date of hospitalisation and may include post-discharge rest and recuperation that is directed by a medical practitioner. There is no requirement that income is actually lost. The allowance is payable at up to the Special (T & PI) rate.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Temporary Incapacity Allowance claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Temporary Incapacity Allowance, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 77.

Vehicle Assistance Scheme

This provides financial assistance to enable a veteran to purchase a new motor vehicle. Thereafter, assistance may also be provided to purchase replacement vehicles. VAS also provides a running and maintenance allowance which may be used towards the cost of registering and insuring the vehicle. Eligibility to VAS is limited to extremely disabled veterans who meet the laid down criteria.

It is not necessary for the veteran to be able to drive the car as the veteran's partner or carer who can drive and holds a current driver's licence may be granted the assistance. However the veteran must be capable of being easily transported in the car on a regular basis by the partner or carer.

We strongly recommend that if you are going to make a Vehicle Assistance Scheme claim, you should consult an ex-service organisation, (that you have confidence in), who have pension officers that have competed the Training Information Program, (TIP).

For further information on applying for the Vehicle Assistance Scheme, contact your nearest DVA office or visit their web site at www.dva.gov.au and look up fact sheet DP 78.