Attendant Allowance

Legislative Authority

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
Section 98

Stated Current Purpose/Intent

To assist an eligible veteran, member of the Forces, member of a Peacekeeping Force or Australian mariner with the cost of the services of an attendant.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligible person must be in receipt of a Disability Compensation Payment for incapacity from one of the following war-caused or defence-caused injuries or diseases:

• blinded in both eyes;
• blinded in both eyes together with total loss of speech or total deafness;
• both arms amputated;
• both legs amputated and one arm amputated;
• both legs amputated at the hip or one leg amputated at the hip and the other amputated in the upper third;
• injury or disease affecting the cerebro-spinal system and the Commission is of the opinion that the person has a need for the services of an attendant to assist the person; or
• injury or disease that has caused a condition similar in effect or severity to an injury or disease affecting the cerebro-spinal system and the Commission is of the opinion that the person has a need for the services of an attendant to assist the person.

Notes

1. The allowance may not be payable to a person while he or she is an in-patient at "public expense" in a hospital or other institution, or where a carer payment under the Social Security Act 1991 is payable (see the topic: “Recreation Transport Allowance”).
2. Attendant allowance is payable at the higher or lower rate depending on the type of disablement.
3. Attendant allowance is not payable if Carer Payment is being paid to a person in respect of the veteran.
4. The allowance is payable at a higher and lower rate depending on the incapacity.

Date of Introduction

1922

Original Purpose/Intent

The original intention has not changed.