External
Policy
10 years Continuous Period
A Commonwealth veteran, Allied veteran or Allied mariner applying for service pension must, in addition to being an Australian resident and residing in Australia, have at any time, been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least 10 years [Sections 36(2) VEA and 37(3) VEA refer].
Exceptions
An exception to the 10 year residency requirement exists for Commonwealth veterans, Allied veterans and Allied mariners if, for service pension purposes they are considered to be:
- [glossary:permanently incapacitated:] [glossary:(for the purpose of invalidity:] [glossary:service pension:][glossary:):]; and
- the person became permanently incapacitated for work while an Australian resident;
- the person's permanent incapacity for work was not brought about with a view to obtaining a service pension or a social security pension; and
- the person does not have an enforceable claim against any person, under any law or contract, for adequate compensation in respect of the permanent incapacity; or
- a refugee or former refugee
Concession
A concession to the ten year requirement can be applied where a person has multiple periods of residency, each of which is less than ten years.