C36/2005 Correction of Departmental Instruction B02/92 - BPOD Clients not Eligible for Pharmaceutical Allowance

Purpose

This instruction is to notify staff of a correction to Departmental Instruction (DI) B02/92, regarding British pensioners and other dominions (BPOD) clients' eligibility for pharmaceutical allowance (PA) and advance PA.

Correction to DI B02/92

DI B02/92 states that BPOD clients who hold only a White Card are eligible for PA under the VEA and therefore also eligible for advance PA under the VEA.  BPOD clients are not eligible for PA or advance PA under the VEA, as their White Card is not issued under the VEA.  These white cards are issued for administrative convenience to enable the veteran to access treatment for war caused disabilities accepted by their country of service.

Paragraphs 47 and 48 of DI B02/92 are repealed and replaced with:

47.  BPOD clients are issued with a White Card to facilitate the provision of treatment for their accepted disabilities only.  This entitlement is not gained under the VEA, but is issued as an administrative action by DVA.  Because the entitlement does not accrue under the VEA, BPOD clients are not eligible for PA or advance PA.

CLIK contains current policy on PA

Current policy on PA is in CLIK at Part 7, Chapter 1.  This should be referred to as the primary source of information regarding PA, including advance PA.

Procedural matters

PA is automatically granted to White Card holders when the card is granted.  If a BPOD client is granted a White Card and has no other eligibility for PA, the PA should immediately be suspended.

It is anticipated that a system solution will be implemented in December 2005 to prevent any further grants of PA to BPOD clients.  PA for BPOD clients, currently suspended, will also be able to be cancelled from that time.  Further information will be provided closer to December on what action is required for these cases.

Contact

Please contact Steve Weller, Income Support Policy, on extension 16590 or by email if you require any further information.