Veterans Supplement

Legislative Authority

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
Sections 118A & 118B (eligibility)
Sections 118C & 118D (rates)

Stated Current Purpose/Intent

The Veterans' Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009 introduced the new Veterans Supplement, payable under the VEA and the MRCA (called MRCA Supplement).  This payment replaced pharmaceutical allowance and telephone allowance for people who were receiving those payments and were not eligible for other payments that incorporated pharmaceutical allowance and telephone allowance.

Current Eligibility Criteria

Veterans and dependants can receive the Veterans Supplement if they do not receive an income support payment and meet the following criteria:

• Have a Veteran Gold Card; or
• Have a Veteran White Card; or
• Have a Veteran Orange Card; or
• Receive a Disability Compensation Payment; or
• Receive an Orphan's Pension; or
• Receive a War Widow(er)'s Pension and are under 60 years of age.

Clients that are automatically provided a White Card for Non-Liability Health Care mental health treatment upon transition from the ADF will only become eligible for Veterans Supplement once they use the White Card for treatment.

Date of Introduction

20 September 2009.

Notes

1. Veterans Supplement is paid fortnightly (refer to Current Payment Rates).
2. A person eligible under either section 118A or section 118B but not both receives one payment. A person eligible under both sections will receive two supplements.
3. Veterans Supplement is indexed each January using CPI only.
4. The payment is non-taxable and is portable for up to 26 weeks of a temporary absence from Australia.