Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 Act No 27 of 1986 as amended This

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary.......................................................................1

Part 1—Preliminary.......................................................................11 Short title [see Note 1].....................................................................11 Short title [see Note 1].....................................................................12 Commencement [see Note 1]...........................................................12 Commencement [see Note 1]...........................................................13 Repeal..............................................................................................13 Repeal..............................................................................................14 Extension of Act to external Territories...........................................14 Extension of Act to external Territories...........................................14A Application of the Criminal Code..................................................14A Application of the Criminal Code..................................................15 Index of definitions..........................................................................25 Index of definitions..........................................................................25A Repatriation Commission definitions............................................95A Repatriation Commission definitions............................................95AB Repatriation Medical Authority and Specialist Medical Review

Council definitions..............................................................105AB Repatriation Medical Authority and Specialist Medical Review

Council definitions..............................................................105B War and operational area related definitions................................115B War and operational area related definitions................................115C Eligibility related definitions.......................................................135C Eligibility related definitions.......................................................135D Injury/disease definitions............................................................215D Injury/disease definitions............................................................215E Family relationships definitions—couples...................................225E Family relationships definitions—couples...................................225F Family relationships definitions—children .................................275F Family relationships definitions—children .................................275G Australian residence definitions..................................................285G Australian residence definitions..................................................285H Income test definitions................................................................305H Income test definitions................................................................305I Special Rate Disability Pension reduction amount.......................43

5I Special Rate Disability Pension reduction amount.......................43

5J Financial assets and income streams definitions...........................435J Financial assets and income streams definitions...........................435JA Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—lifetime income

streams................................................................................52

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 iii

5JA Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—lifetime income

streams................................................................................525JB Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—life expectancy

income streams...................................................................595JB Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—life expectancy

income streams...................................................................595JBA Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—market-linked

income streams...................................................................675JBA Meaning of asset-test exempt income stream—market-linked

income streams...................................................................675JC Family law affected income streams..........................................735JC Family law affected income streams..........................................735JD Asset-tested status of secondary FLA income streams...............735JD Asset-tested status of secondary FLA income streams...............735K Maintenance income definitions.................................................745K Maintenance income definitions.................................................745L Assets test definitions..................................................................785L Assets test definitions..................................................................785LA Principal home definition for the purpose of the assets test......825LA Principal home definition for the purpose of the assets test......825M Retirement village definitions....................................................885M Retirement village definitions....................................................885MA Granny flat definitions.............................................................895MA Granny flat definitions.............................................................895MB Sale leaseback definitions........................................................915MB Sale leaseback definitions........................................................915MC Special residence and resident definitions...............................935MC Special residence and resident definitions...............................935N Rent definitions...........................................................................935N Rent definitions...........................................................................935NA Indexation and rate adjustment definitions...............................975NA Indexation and rate adjustment definitions...............................975NB Compensation recovery definitions..........................................985NB Compensation recovery definitions..........................................985NC In care definitions...................................................................1045NC In care definitions...................................................................1045P Retirement assistance for farmers definitions............................1065P Retirement assistance for farmers definitions............................1065PAA Retirement assistance for sugarcane farmers definitions.......110

5PAA Retirement assistance for sugarcane farmers definitions.......110

5PA Pharmaceutical allowance and advance pharmaceutical

allowance definitions........................................................1155PA Pharmaceutical allowance and advance pharmaceutical

allowance definitions........................................................115

iv Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

5PB Seniors health card definitions................................................1165PB Seniors health card definitions................................................1165Q General definitions....................................................................1175Q General definitions....................................................................1175QAA Equal amounts.....................................................................1265QAA Equal amounts.....................................................................1265QA Pension age for veterans.........................................................1275QA Pension age for veterans.........................................................1275QB Pension age for persons other than veterans...........................1285QB Pension age for persons other than veterans...........................1285R Determinations having interpretative effect...............................1295R Determinations having interpretative effect...............................1295T Lodgment of claims, applications, requests and documents.......133

5T Lodgment of claims, applications, requests and documents.......133

5U Notes.........................................................................................1345U Notes.........................................................................................1346 Operational service—general outline...........................................1356 Operational service—general outline...........................................1356A Operational service—world wars..............................................1356A Operational service—world wars..............................................1356B Operational service—Australian mariners.................................1386B Operational service—Australian mariners.................................1386C Operational service—post World War 2 service in operational

areas..................................................................................1396C Operational service—post World War 2 service in operational

areas..................................................................................1396D Operational service—other post World War 2 service...............141

6D Operational service—other post World War 2 service...............141

6DA Operational service—minesweeping and bomb/mine clearance

service...............................................................................1426DA Operational service—minesweeping and bomb/mine clearance

service...............................................................................1426E Operational service—Korean demilitarised zone and Vietnam..142

6E Operational service—Korean demilitarised zone and Vietnam..142

6F Operational service—warlike and non-warlike service..............143

7 Eligible war service.....................................................................1437 Eligible war service.....................................................................1437A Qualifying service.....................................................................1447A Qualifying service.....................................................................1448 War-caused death.........................................................................1478 War-caused death.........................................................................1479 War-caused injuries or diseases....................................................1509 War-caused injuries or diseases....................................................150

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 v

9A Most war-caused injuries, diseases and deaths no longer covered

by this Act.........................................................................153

9A Most war-caused injuries, diseases and deaths no longer covered

by this Act.........................................................................153

10 Child of a veteran or other person..............................................154

11 Dependants................................................................................155

11AA Reinstated pensioner.............................................................156

11A Marriage-like relationships......................................................156

Part II—Pensions, other than service pensions, for veterans

and their dependants...................................................158

Part II—Pensions, other than service pensions, for veterans

and their dependants...................................................158Division 1—Interpretation..........................................................158Division 1—Interpretation..........................................................158

12 Interpretation.............................................................................158

12 Interpretation.............................................................................158Division 2—Eligibility for pension.............................................159Division 2—Eligibility for pension.............................................159

13 Eligibility for pension................................................................159

13 Eligibility for pension................................................................159Division 2A—Verification determinations for reinstated

pensioners...............................................................165Division 2A—Verification determinations for reinstated

pensioners...............................................................165

13AA Application for verification determination............................165

13AB Who may apply....................................................................165

13AC Application for verification determination............................165

13AE Investigation by the Secretary...............................................165

13AF Duties of Commission in relation to application for verification

determination....................................................................166

13AF Duties of Commission in relation to application for verification

determination....................................................................166

vi Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

13AG Verification determination....................................................16613AG Verification determination....................................................166

Division 3—Claims for pensions and applications for increases in pensions...................................................................169

Division 3—Claims for pensions and applications for increases in pensions...................................................................16913A Certain dependants to be automatically paid pension..............16913A Certain dependants to be automatically paid pension..............16913B Reinstated pensioners to be automatically paid pension..........17013B Reinstated pensioners to be automatically paid pension..........17014 Claim for pension......................................................................17014 Claim for pension......................................................................17015 Application for increase in pension............................................17215 Application for increase in pension............................................17216 Who may make claim or application..........................................17316 Who may make claim or application..........................................17317 Investigation by the Secretary....................................................17417 Investigation by the Secretary....................................................17418 Duties of Commission in relation to pensions............................17518 Duties of Commission in relation to pensions............................17519 Determination of claims and applications..................................17519 Determination of claims and applications..................................17519A Refusal to undergo medical examination etc. may delay

consideration of claim or application................................17919A Refusal to undergo medical examination etc. may delay

consideration of claim or application................................17920 Dates of effect that may be specified in respect of grant of claim

for pension........................................................................18020 Dates of effect that may be specified in respect of grant of claim

for pension........................................................................18021 Dates of effect that may be specified in respect of grant of

applications under section 15............................................18221 Dates of effect that may be specified in respect of grant of

applications under section 15............................................182

Division 4—Rates of pensions payable to veterans...................184

Division 4—Rates of pensions payable to veterans...................18421A Determination of degree of incapacity....................................18421A Determination of degree of incapacity....................................18422 General rate of pension and extreme disablement adjustment....184

22 General rate of pension and extreme disablement adjustment....184

23 Intermediate rate of pension.......................................................18523 Intermediate rate of pension.......................................................18524 Special rate of pension...............................................................189

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 vii

24 Special rate of pension...............................................................18924A Continuation of rates of certain pensions................................19224A Continuation of rates of certain pensions................................19225 Temporary payment at special rate.............................................19325 Temporary payment at special rate.............................................19325A Offsetting certain SRCA payments..........................................19325A Offsetting certain SRCA payments..........................................19326 Reduction in rate of pension in certain cases.............................19426 Reduction in rate of pension in certain cases.............................19427 Increased rates of pension in certain cases.................................19527 Increased rates of pension in certain cases.................................19527A Calculation of arrears of pension.............................................19727A Calculation of arrears of pension.............................................19727B Certain decisions under section 27A reviewable under the Social

Security Act......................................................................19927B Certain decisions under section 27A reviewable under the Social

Security Act......................................................................19928 Capacity to undertake remunerative work..................................19928 Capacity to undertake remunerative work..................................19929 Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions..............20029 Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions..............200

Division 5—Rates of pensions payable to dependants of deceased

veteran.....................................................................202

Division 5—Rates of pensions payable to dependants of deceased

veteran.....................................................................20230 Rates at which pensions are payable to dependants ..................20230 Rates at which pensions are payable to dependants ..................202

Division 5A—Effect of certain compensation payments on rates

of pension................................................................204

Division 5A—Effect of certain compensation payments on rates

of pension................................................................20430A This Division does not apply to certain payments...................20430A This Division does not apply to certain payments...................20430B Interpretation...........................................................................20430B Interpretation...........................................................................20430C Lump sum compensation payment..........................................20530C Lump sum compensation payment..........................................20530D Periodic payment of compensation..........................................21130D Periodic payment of compensation..........................................21130E Proceedings against third party................................................21430E Proceedings against third party................................................214

viii Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

30F Failure to comply with Commission’s request made under

section 30E.......................................................................214

30F Failure to comply with Commission’s request made under

section 30E.......................................................................214

30G Payment of damages by third party to Commonwealth...........215

30H Payment of damages by third party where agreement, or an

award against the person, to pay damages has been made.216

30H Payment of damages by third party where agreement, or an

award against the person, to pay damages has been made.216

30I Debt due to the Commonwealth...............................................217

30J Discharge of liability................................................................217

30K Discharge of liability of Commonwealth to pay damages.......218

30L Other payments of compensation.............................................218

30M Commission may require a statutory declaration....................219

30N Failure to comply with statutory declaration requirement.......219

30P Overpayments of pension........................................................219

30P Overpayments of pension........................................................219Division 6—Reviews of pensions by Commission......................221Division 6—Reviews of pensions by Commission......................221

31 Review by Commission.............................................................221

31 Review by Commission.............................................................221Division 7—Procedural...............................................................226Division 7—Procedural...............................................................226

32 Commission may take evidence.................................................226

33 Withdrawal of claim or application............................................228

34 Reasons for decisions to be given..............................................229

Part III—Service pensions.........................................................231

Part III—Service pensions.........................................................231Division 1—General features......................................................231Division 1—General features......................................................231

35 Order and structure of Divisions................................................231

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 ix

35 Order and structure of Divisions................................................231

35A Eligibility for and payability of service pension......................231

Division 2—Claim for qualifying service...................................232

Division 2—Claim for qualifying service...................................232Subdivision A—Claim.....................................................................232Subdivision A—Claim.....................................................................232

35B Need for a claim......................................................................232

35C Who can claim?.......................................................................232

35D Making a claim.......................................................................233

35F Claim may be withdrawn.........................................................233

35FB Oral withdrawal of a claim....................................................233

35FC Acknowledgment of oral withdrawal of a claim....................233

35FD Reactivating the withdrawn claim.........................................234

35FD Reactivating the withdrawn claim.........................................234Subdivision B—Investigation of claim..........................................234Subdivision B—Investigation of claim..........................................234

35G Secretary to investigate claim and submit it to Commission...234

Subdivision C—Consideration and determination of claim.......234

35H Duties of Commission in relation to claim..............................234

35J Determination of qualifying service to be proof of qualifying

service...............................................................................236

35J Determination of qualifying service to be proof of qualifying

service...............................................................................236

Division 3—Age service pension.................................................237

Division 3—Age service pension.................................................237Subdivision A—Eligibility for and payability of age service

pension...................................................................237Subdivision A—Eligibility for and payability of age service

pension...................................................................237

36 Eligibility for age service pension..............................................237

x Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

DOCSFORD

Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 Act No 27 of 1986 as amended This