External
Policy

 

What is special assistance?

The Repatriation Commission has the discretion to grant, by way of legislative instrument or regulation, special assistance or benefits to:

  • veterans (including members of the Forces or members of a Peacekeeping Force), or
  • dependants of a veteran or a deceased veteran.

These regulations are made for the purposes of section 106 of the VEA, and provide:

  • the eligibility criteria for the special assistance,
  • the dollar value of the special assistance,
  • the veteran’s rights to have a determination about special assistance reviewed, and
  • any other relevant matters. 

The two special assistance regulations discussed in this chapter are:

Are there situations when special assistance cannot be granted under these regulations?

Subsection 106(2) of the VEA provides two circumstances in which special assistance cannot be provided under these regulations:

  • in circumstances where a person is eligible for an allowance or assistance under another provision of the VEA, or
  • to a veteran or dependant of a veteran or a deceased veteran, if the veteran only rendered service under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).

Note: Subsection 106(2) highlights that special assistance under the regulations is intended to apply where other provisions of the VEA are inadequate to cover particular circumstances, or where there is no coverage at all in the circumstances.

Note: Veterans or dependants of veterans or deceased veterans with coverage under the MRCA only, may be entitled to special assistance under regulations made for the purposes of section 424 of the MRCA.