DVA may pay three different types of income support bereavement payment [3], as detailed in the table below.
Payment |
Description |
Single Pensioner Bereavement Payment More ? [4] |
This payment is made in respect of the death of a:
|
Partnered Pensioner Bereavement Payment More ? [5] |
This payment is made in respect of the death of a pensioner who is:
|
Dependent Child Bereavement Payment More ? [6] |
This payment is made in respect of the death of a dependent child [3] of a pensioner or pensioner couple. |
Part IIIB, Division 12A, Subdivision C [7] VEA - Single Pensioner Bereavement Payment
Part IIIB, Division 12A, Subdivision C [7] VEA - Partnered pensioner Bereavement Payment
Part IIIB, Division 12A, Subdivision D [7] VEA - Dependent Child Bereavement Payment
A bereavement payment is an amount payable in respect of a deceased pensioner that represents a continuation of the pensioner's entitlement for a period following the death (the bereavement period).
The payment can be made as:
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.
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.
The term social security pension is defined in Section 5Q(1) VEA [15] to mean:
As benefits (pensions) may change, for the most current definition access this link to the Social Security Act 1991
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401781?OpenDocument
The term social security benefit is defined in Section 5Q(1) of the VEA [15] to mean:
As benefits (pensions) may change, for the most current definition access this link to the Social Security Act 1991
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401781?OpenDocument
Respite care is care provided for one member of a couple in a nursing home or hostel on a temporary basis so that their partner can have a break from providing care. For care to be recognised as respite care under the VEA, it must be Government subsidised care provided under the Aged Care Act 1997.
A pensioner receiving such care, and their partner (a respite care couple), are entitled to be paid the single rate of pension.
For the full definition of respite care, refer to subsection 5NC(8) of the VEA [15].
Section 5F(1) of the VEA defines dependent child as having the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991. For income support purposes, dependent child is defined as:
Child under 16 years
A child under 16 years cannot be considered a dependent child if:
Child 16 years or older
A young person who has turned 16 years but is under 22 years can still be a dependent child of the pensioner if:
A child over 16 years cannot be considered a dependent child if:
Income includes earning from casual, part-time or full-time earnings.
Note: the meaning of a dependent child for DVA income support pension purposes is not the same as the meaning for Family Tax Benefit purposes.
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/15949%23comment-form
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#tgt-cspol_part8_ftn6
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/%23
[4] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#tgt-cspol_part8_ftn7
[5] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#tgt-cspol_part8_ftn8
[6] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#tgt-cspol_part8_ftn9
[7] https://clik.dva.gov.au/legislation-library
[8] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#ref-cspol_part8_ftn6
[9] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-8-bereavement-assistance/81-income-support-bereavement-payment/813-single-pensioner-bereavement-payment
[10] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#ref-cspol_part8_ftn7
[11] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-8-bereavement-assistance/81-income-support-bereavement-payment/814-partnered-pensioner-bereavement-payment
[12] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#ref-cspol_part8_ftn8
[13] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-8-bereavement-assistance/81-income-support-bereavement-payment/815-dependent-child-bereavement-payment
[14] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#ref-cspol_part8_ftn9
[15] http://clik.dva.gov.au/legislation-library
[16] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#tgt-SSA_ftn1
[17] http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A04121
[18] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/15949#ref-SSA_ftn1