New Zealand veterans living in Australia dealing with Centrelink
As a result of continued advocacy by Wayne Lindsay OAM, on behalf of New Zealand veterans living in Australia, Veterans’ Affairs has acknowledged the difficulties some veterans face in their dealings with Centrelink when having to provide information regarding financial entitlements, in particular those financial entitlements which are tax-exempt in New Zealand.
To help ease some of the issues being faced, New Zealand veterans living in Australia can request from their VA case manager, a letter which will explain to Centrelink that the veteran is in receipt of a financial entitlement under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (the Act) and that The Act provides for rehabilitation, support and entitlements for eligible veterans who, as a result of being placed in harm’s way in the service of New Zealand, have become injured or ill.
The letter from Veterans’ Affairs will list those entitlements the veteran has which are applicable to the veteran’s discussions with Centrelink, including an explanation as to what the payment is for, and the current weekly rate. The information provided in the letter will be signed out by the Manager Veterans’ Services and sent back to the veteran from their case manager.
If you are a New Zealand veteran living in Australia and you require a letter to take to Centrelink, please contact us.
More information
VA became aware that New Zealand veterans living in Australia were facing issues when trying to explain to Centrelink the financial entitlements they were receiving from the New Zealand Government, and what the entitlements were for and how often they are paid.
The letter will provide your full name and date of birth and will explain that you are in receipt of a financial entitlement under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (the Act). It will also advise Centrelink that The Act provides for rehabilitation, support and entitlements for eligible veterans who, as a result of being placed in harm’s way in the service of New Zealand, have become injured or ill.
The letter will state that Veterans' Affairs is a unit of the New Zealand Defence Force, that pays entitlements fortnightly into New Zealand bank accounts and monthly into overseas bank accounts.
Only those financial entitlements that you are in receipt of as the veteran will be listed together with the current weekly rate. The entitlements will be selected from the following list detailing whether it is impairment compensation or income support:
- Disablement Pension is an impairment compensation payment for illness or injuries related to the veteran’s service.
- Independence Allowance is an impairment compensation payment for illness or injuries related to the veteran’s service.
- War Disablement Pension is an impairment compensation payment for illness or injuries related to the veteran’s service.
- Weekly Income Compensation is income support for eligible veterans unable to work full-time (30 hours or more a week) because of injury or illness from any cause (does not need to be service-related). Weekly Income Compensation may be abated if a veteran undertakes paid part-time employment.
- Weekly Compensation is income support for eligible veterans unable to work full-time (30 hours or more a week) because of a service-related injury or illness. Weekly Compensation may be abated if a veteran undertakes paid part-time employment.
You can contact us to ask for another copy.
Centrelink can contact us to verify the information.