Veterans promised election benefits now in place
A number of key election commitments took effect from 1 July, delivering improved entitlements to around 310,000 of
The measures deliver a number of increased payments to veterans, war widows, widowers and their dependents.
As a result of legislation that has recently passed the Parliament, the Government will now:
-
Automatically grant war widows pensions to those surviving partners of temporary special rate or intermediate rate pensioners;
-
Provide the income support supplement of up to $163.20 a fortnight, to eligible war widows and widowers who are under 58 years old; and
-
Make bereavement payments to single recipients of the special rate and extreme disablement adjustment disability pensions, who die in indigent circumstances.
Two hundred and seventy thousand veterans are also about to receive the second quarterly instalment of increased Utilities Allowance, worth $125.00 per family.
In addition, 41,000 (mainly war widows) are about to be paid the second instalment of Senior Concession Allowance of $125.00.
Seventy six thousand eligible veterans and carers will also benefit from an increase in the telephone allowance, from $88.00 to $132.00 annually, to help meet the cost of an internet connection.
Other initiatives that were part of the 2008-09 budget, and were paid in the last week, include a $500 bonus to 310,000 eligible veterans and bonuses of between $600 and $1,000 to 17,000 carers.
These amounts are in addition to the fairer indexation system, and the five per cent increase to the base of all pensions at the General Rate that was implemented in March 2008.
