B33/1989 GRANT OF THE TELEPHONE RENTAL CONCESSION TO ALL WORLD WAR I VETERANS

Date of Issue:25 October 1989

GRANT OF THE TELEPHONE RENTAL CONCESSION TO ALL WORLD WAR I VETERANS

Background

New Policy Proposals approved by Cabinet for 1989/90 included a Ministerial initiative to grant the Telephone Rental Concession (TRC) to all World War I veterans with a telephone connected in their name where they live.

2.This decision will affect those World War I veterans who are not already eligible for the Concession ie, those who are not permanently blind, or T&PI, or a Service Pensioner eligible for fringe benefits.

Eligibility Guidelines

3.To be eligible for the Concession in the future, World War I veterans need only have a telephone connected in their name where they live and satisfy the interpretation criteria for a World War I veteran as laid down in s.5 of the Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986 ie, while a member of the Defence Force of Australia, rendered continuous full-time service during World War I.

4.In addition, eligible World War I veterans are not required to satisfy the Household Income Test.

Implementation Date

5.The proposal is to be implemented from 1 January 1990 but the issue of TRC vouchers to eligible veterans will be timed to coincide with the next bulk issue in early December 1989.

Implementation Procedures

6.All World War I veterans on the CDB who are not already eligible will be sent a letter signed by the Minister advising them of the changes in eligibility conditions.  This letter should be despatched by Tuesday, 24 October 1989.  A copy of the advice letter is attached.

7.Those veterans who feel that they qualify for the Concession will be required to write their telephone number in the space provided on a form to be sent with the advice letter.  The Form is to be returned in a prepaid return-addressed envelope.  Forms will be personalised with the veteran's name, address and file number.  A copy of the Form is attached.

8.There will also be a Ministerial News Release about the changes and the matter will be advertised in major metropolitan newspapers on Saturday, 21 October 1989, and in major regional newspapers on Saturday, 28 October 1989.  In addition, copies of the Ministerial News Release will be sent to peak ex-Service Organisations for distribution to their members.  Copies of the news release and the newspaper advertisement are also attached.

9.This latter aspect of the publicity campaign may result in enquiries being received from potential new clients.

Processing Returned Forms/New Claims

10.The Ministerial advice letter and form will be sent only to those veterans already recorded as World War I veterans.  Consequently, on receipt of the completed form, Branch Offices are to place the returned form on the veteran's file and either:

.access the client's record on the Client Registration system and enter the telephone number and set the telephone subscriber indicator (TSI) to "Y" - yes,

OR

.access the client's record on the TRC System (TC.UP) screen and enter the telephone number and set the TSI to "Y" - yes.

ll.New Claims  Should an enquiry be received from a person not on the CDB, normal procedures are to be followed to determine the enquirer's eligibility.  Should the veteran provide sufficient information to be recorded as a client, the telephone number is also to be recorded and the TSI set to "Y".  If the client is subsequently determined to be a World War I veteran, the TRC system will issue vouchers automatically.

12.Some existing and new clients may already receive TRC vouchers from DSS.  This aspect is to be clarified by phone with the DSS Liaison Officer in each State before client details are recorded on the CDB.

13.Details of eligible clients for the bulk issue of TRC vouchers will be compiled on magnetic tapes over the weekend 18/19 November 1989.  Consequently, processing of Forms and enquiries from World War I veterans should be completed by COB on Friday 17 November 1989 to minimise manual effort.

Contact Officers

14.The manager of the project is CES WHITE who can be contacted on (062) 814 351 but enquiries on ADP matters should be directed in the first instance to RIC MOORE on (062) 825 491.

PETER HAWKER

NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

BENEFITS

ATTACHMENT 1

      October 1989

Mr John H. Smith

31 Sturgess Place

DUFFY ACT 2611

Dear Mr Smith,

I am pleased to advise you that in the Budget this year the Government revised the conditions for granting the Telephone Rental Concession to World War 1 veterans.

From 1 January 1990, all World War 1 veterans will be eligible for the Concession if they have a telephone connected in their name where they live.

If you qualify for the Concession, please write your telephone number in the space provided on the attached form and return it in the prepaid addressed envelope.

The value of the Concession in 1990 will be $48.80 and paid in quarterly instalments of $12.20.

If you qualify for the Concession, my Department will send you four Telephone Rental Concession vouchers in December, for use next year.  Each voucher will have a face value of $12.20. Instructions on how to use the vouchers to claim the Concession will be sent to you with the vouchers in December.

Yours sincerely,

(BEN HUMPREYS)

Minister for Veterans' Affairs

ATTACHMENT 2

Mr John H. Smith

31 Sturgess Place

DUFFY ACT 2611

File No: 1234567

If you qualify for the Telephone Rental Concession, please write your telephone number in the space below and return this form in the prepaid addressed envelope provided to GPO Box 9998 in your State capital city.

The telephone number connected in my name     STD code

where I live is

If you need more information please ring us.

.Metropolitan residents

Sydney — 290 7777 — Adelaide — 213 2611

Melbourne — 267 4000 — Perth — 425 8222

Brisbane — 223 8333 — Hobart — 20 5011

.Country residents - for the cost of a local call

Northern Territory (incl. Darwin)008 888 121

Tasmania — 008 001 211

Nth QLD (incl. Townsville)008 019 304

Australian Capital Territory — 008 046 088

all other country locations — 008 113 304

ATTACHMENT 3

89/53

October 1989

WORLD WAR 1 VETERANS TO GET TELEPHONE RENTAL CONCESSION

From 1 January 1990, all World War 1 veterans will be eligible for the Telephone Rental Concession if they have a telephone connected in their name, where they live, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Ben Humphreys said today.

The value of the Concession will be $48.80 and paid in quarterly instalments of $12.20.

Mr Humphreys said the Department of Veterans' Affairs would be sending a letter to every World War 1 veteran who at present is not getting the Concession, advising them of the changes in the conditions of eligibility.

"By changing the conditions of eligibility, all World War 1 veterans will now have the opportunity to benefit from the Concession," Mr Humphreys said.

"World War 1 veterans occupy a unique place in our history and deserve special consideration in their advancing years."

World War 1 veterans who have a telephone connected in their name, where they live, will be sent four Telephone Rental Concession vouchers in December for use next year.

Each voucher will have a face value of $12.20.  Instructions on how to claim the Concession will be included with the vouchers.

* * * * * *

Media enquires: Geoff Stewart (062) 89 6611

ATTACHMENT 4

NOTICE TO WORLD WAR 1 VETERANS

Telephone Rental Concession Changes

Conditions for granting Telephone Rental Concession to World War 1 veterans have been revised.

From 1 January 1990, all World War 1 veterans will be eligible for the Concession if they have a telephone connected in their name where they live.

Those veterans who are not already getting the Concession will receive a letter from the Department of Veterans' Affairs explaining how to make a claim.

If you consider you qualify for the Concession and do not receive the letter by the end of October, please contact the nearest office of the Department.