PENSION RISE FOR VETERANS AND WAR WIDOWS

Service pensions, the war widow’s pension and disability payments will increase from 20 September 2006 and will be reflected in pension payments on the payday of 28 September 2006.

Service pensions and the war widow’s pension will rise by up to $12.40 per fortnight, and disability payments by up to $20.80.These latest adjustments will boost the maximum rate of the single service pension to $512.10 per fortnight, and the maximum rate for couples to $427.70 each.

The war widow’s pension will also increase to $537.10, meaning war widows will now be better off by $12.40 per fortnight. Additionally, the ceiling rate of the income support supplement, which is paid to some 81,000 war widows, will rise to $152.60.

With the Special (T&PI) Rate set to rise by $20.80, T&PI disability
pensioners will now be receiving $852.90 per fortnight.

Rates for benefits under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA) would also increase. The MRCA widowed partner’s death benefit is paid at the same rate as the war widow’s pension, while MRCA Special Rate Disability pensioners receive the same payments as T&PI pensioners.

Further information on the new pension rates is available from the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 or at www.dva.gov.au.