PoWs paid special recognition
It seems of little worth compared to the indescribable conditions they suffered during the Second World War and Korean War, but nevertheless, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, paid special recognition last week to the soldiers who sacrificed so much and received so little in return.
It seems of little worth compared to the indescribable conditions they suffered during the Second World War and Korean War, but nevertheless, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, paid special recognition last week to the soldiers who sacrificed so much and received so little in return.
Eligibility for the Prisoner of War Recognition Supplement, which was described as a Budget commitment, was announced last week, with the first-full payments beginning next week on 6 October 2011.
“The $500 fortnightly Supplement is a special recognition of the unimaginable horrors and hardships endured by Australia’s former prisoners of war,” Mr Snowdon said.
The Supplement will be paid to surviving Australian veteran and civilian former prisoners of war who were held captive during the Second World War by military forces of a European enemy state, or veteran prisoners of war held captive by military forces of North Korea during the Korean War.
The regular payments will be automatically received by former prisoners of war who are entitled to the Supplement.
Tax-free and paid in addition to existing Department of Veterans’ Affairs and other Commonwealth benefits, the Supplement will be exempt from the income test and indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.
For more information on the Prisoner of War Recognition Supplement or to query your eligibility call the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 or 1800 555 254 for country callers.
