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Payments to Agents
Last amended: Why appoint an agent?
The Commission may appoint a person to be an agent and receive payments on behalf of a pensioner if requested to do so by the pensioner.
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Obligations of an agent
VEA ?
An agent must either:
- pay the pension or allowance to the pensioner, or
- manage the pension or allowance in accordance with the pensioner's wishes.
Both the pensioner and the agent are legally obliged to notify DVA of changes in the pensioner's circumstances. A pensioner's obligations under sections 54, 54A, 54AA and 127 apply to their agent. Obligations do not apply to the agent where agency arrangements exist with a group payee.
Obligations of a pensioner
VEA ?
Although a pension may be paid to an agent, the payment is taken to be a payment to the pensioner. Any obligations imposed under the VEA on a pensioner to notify the Department of an event or change of circumstances apply to both the pensioner and the agent.
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Pension payments
Where agency arrangements are established, the whole of the pensioner's payments will be paid to the agent. The payments may be made to:
- a joint account, in the names of both the pensioner and the agent; or
- an account held solely in the agent's name. More ?
Agents – obligation remains with pensioner
Section 58D(3) VEA
Recipient Obligations
According to Section 179 of the VEA, the Commission is a body corporate under the name of Repatriation Commission.
According to section 58D of the VEA, an agent is a person who has been nominated by a pensioner and approved by the Commission to receive pension instalments on behalf of the pensioner. The agent must:
- pay the pension or allowance to the pensioner; or
- manage the pension or allowance in accordance with the pensioner's wishes.