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Deceased War Widow/Widower Receiving Service Pension
Calculation of rate last payable
VEA ?
When a war widow/widower who is a member of a couple dies, and he or she was receiving service pension in his or her own right, the rate last payable is calculated as if he or she were an ordinary service pensioner rather than a service pensioner receiving a war widow's/widower's pension.
Thus, no ceiling rates is applied to the rate of pension.
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Partner also a war widow/widower
When the partner of a deceased war widow/widower is also a war widow/widower, the method by which the partner's rate of pension is calculated is not affected by the change to the way in which the deceased pensioner's rate of pension is calculated for bereavement purposes.
Thus a ceiling is still applied to the rate of service pension or income support supplement paid to the partner.
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9.1.2/Service Pension Rate Calculation Process
Ceiling rate rules during bereavement period
8.1.4/Payment Arrangements for Partnered Pensioner Bereavement Payment
A war widow/widower is generally a person who immediately before their partners death, was the partner of, or was legally married to:
- a veteran; or
- a person who was a member of the forces; and
- who is receiving:
- a war widow's/widower's pension; or
- a pension that is payable under the law of a foreign country that is, in the opinion of the Commission, similar to a war widow's/widower's pension.
Refer to 5E(1) of the VEA for the full definition.
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
For the purposes of bereavement payment, the rate last payable is the rate of income support pension that was payable to a person on the last pension payday before their death.
For illness separated couples, respite care couples and war widows/widowers receiving an income support pension, the rate last payable is calculated in a specific way as provided by section 53M of the VEA.
A form of pension that is paid to the partner of a veteran where the veteran has died as a result of war service or eligible Defence Service. War widow's/widower's pension is also paid to the partner of a veteran whose death was not war caused if the veteran was a ex-prisoner of war or if the veteran was receiving Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) Rate, Special Rate (T&PI) or a rate increased in respect of certain war-caused injury or disease.
ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.