6.5 Recreation Transport Allowance

Last amended: 6 September 2011

"All allowances are constantly under review. The information contained in the Consolidated Library of Information and Knowledge (CLIK) does not replace legislation and any relevant decisions that have been determined by the courts.

No person should rely on the contents of CLIK without first obtaining advice from a qualified professional person."

What is recreation transport allowance?

Recreation transport allowance may be paid to a veteran, Member of the Forces, or Member of a Peacekeeping Force suffering from severe war or defence-caused disabilities (such as amputations and blindness) that affect mobility, to promote their access to recreational activities.

Eligibility criteria and rates of recreation transport allowance

Recreation transport allowance is paid to a veteran who is suffering incapacity from certain specified war-caused or defence-caused injuries or diseases of a specific nature. As noted in Re Reginald Glendenning Clifford and Repatriation Commission [1988] AATA 134, the incapacity must be permanent and the veteran must be attending or wish to attend places for recreational purposes.     

Recreation transport allowance may be paid at either a higher rate or lower rate.

Eligibility for the higher rate of recreation transport allowance

The higher rate may be granted to a veteran who, as a result of war or defence-caused disability:

• has both legs amputated above the knees,
• has negligible powers of locomotion so as to be capable of moving only a short distance with the aid of crutches or sticks, or
• in the opinion of the Commission is handicapped with regard to locomotion to a similar degree as either of the above.

Eligibility for the lower rate of recreation transport allowance

The lower rate may be granted to a veteran who, as a result of war or defence-caused disability:

• has both arms amputated at or above the wrists,
• has both legs amputated below the knees,
• has one leg amputated above the knee and the other below the knee,
• has one leg amputated above or below the knee and one arm amputated below the elbow,
• is blinded in both eyes, or
• in the opinion of the Commission is incapacitated to an extent that is similar in effect or severity to the above.

Meaning of 'amputation'

For the purposes of recreation transport allowance:

• a leg that has been rendered permanently and wholly useless above the knee or below the knee is deemed to be amputated above or below the knee, respectively and
• an arm that has been rendered permanently and wholly useless at or above the wrist or below the elbow is deemed to be amputated at or above the wrist or below the elbow, respectively.

When is recreation transport allowance not payable?

Recreation transport allowance is not payable to people who are:

• being cared for at public expense in a hospital or other institution, or
• involved in the Vehicle Assistance Scheme as follows:    
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  Vehicle Assistance Scheme

  Chapter 6.4

   

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• were first provided with a vehicle under the Scheme in the last 2 years;
• received a replacement motor vehicle grant under the Scheme in the last 2 years;
• owe the Commission some or all of the cost of providing a motor vehicle under the Scheme; or
• are eligible to be paid an allowance as a contributor to the running and maintenance of a vehicle that they have been provided under the Scheme.

Assessment of recreation transport allowance payments

Payment of recreation transport allowance under the VEA is excluded income for income support purposes.    

See Also