B68/1995 VETERANS CHILDREN EDUCATION SCHEME - ADDITIONAL TUITION AND SPECIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

DATE OF ISSUE:  12 DECEMBER 1995

VETERANS CHILDREN EDUCATION SCHEME  -  ADDITIONAL TUITION AND SPECIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PURPOSE

The purpose of this instruction is to advise of the new limits that can be approved by Veterans Children Education Boards (VCEB) in respect of Additional Tuition and Special Financial Assistance.  Also to provide details on the revised process for the approval of payments greater than these limits.

BACKGROUND

Under the VCES, a Veterans Children Education Board (VCEB) may arrange for a student to receive additional tuition (para 5.2.1) and, in exceptional circumstances, recommend that special financial assistance be provided (para 5.3.1).  The Scheme (para 5.4.1) provides for the maximum level of these benefits to be set by the Repatriation Commission.  Commission has delegated to the Secretary of each State VCEB, authority to approve payments up to these limits.  An application for payment higher than these limits must be directed to Commission for decision.

On 15 December 1989, (decision CM4442), the Commission set these limits as follows:

AddiAdditional Tuition
Prim Primary  Student	$500.00 p.a.
SecoSecondary Student	$750.00 p.a.
Terti Tertiary Student	$1000.00 p.a.
SpecSpecial Financial Assistance	$1000.00 p.a.

Recently the number of cases in which the amount of assistance required is greater than these limits, has been increasing.  The increase in these requests pointed to a need to increase the present limits to accommodate cost increases since 1989 and to provide for further increases.

New Limits

In August 1995 the Commission approved a submission to increase the amounts that may be approved by an individual State Board as follows:

AddiAdditional Tuition
Prim Primary  Student	$1000.00 p.a.
SecoSecondary Student	$1250.00 p.a.
Terti Tertiary Student	$1500.00 p.a.
SpecSpecial Financial Assistance	$1500.00 p.a.

New Delegation

The Commission also created a new delegation to allow for Branch Head (Compensation & Review), position number 645 to approve a further $2000.00 p.a. for both Additional Tuition and Special Financial Assistance.

An application for a sum greater than this level must be submitted to the Repatriation Commission for approval.

NEW PROCEDURE

When a claim for Additional Tuition or Special Financial Assistance is received that is greater than the new limits that the Board can approve, a submission is to be made to Branch Head (Compensation & Review) requesting that the payment be approved.  If the claim is greater than the limit that Branch Head (C&R) can approve a separate submission will be sent to Commission requesting their decision.

CONTACT OFFICER

For further information on this matter please call Jonathan Levy on (06)289-6420.

MURRAY HARRISON

DIVISION HEAD

COMPENSATION