1.5.1.1 — The intention of DVA's Income Support Program is to deliver means-tested income support pensions, allowances and benefits to veterans and their dependents.
1.5.1.2 — There are four main forms of income support paid under the VEA:
1.5.1.3 — All income support pensions are subject to income and assets tests except those granted to people who are blinded in both eyes. A number of supplementary allowances are also available.
1.5.1.4 — DVA pays and administers age pension under the Social Security Law to certain Disability Compensation Payment recipients and their partners. DVA is also delegated to administer parts of the Aged Care Act 1997 for the purposes of calculating income tested residential aged care fees.
1.5.2.1 — The intention of DVA's Compensation Program is to provide compensation to eligible veterans and their dependants for the tangible effects of war or defence service.
1.5.2.2 — Eligible persons receive Disability Compensation Payments and war widow(er)'s pensions administered by the Repatriation Commission which are paid under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
1.5.2.3 - Eligible persons receive permanent impairement payments, incapacity payments, payments for dependants, ancillary benefits and payments administered by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission which are paid under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988.
1.5.3.1 — It is the responsibility of Australian Government agencies to ensure that recipients of pensions or benefits receive only the payments to which they are entitled. Overpayments occur when an amount of pension or benefit is paid that is greater than the legal entitlement.
1.5.3.2 — The Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 requires DVA to deal with Commonwealth revenue in an efficient, effective and ethical manner. The Repatriation Commission is not subject to this act and its powers to recover overpayments come expressly from the VEA. However, the principles in the FMA Act are relevant to the manner in which overpayment recovery should be pursued. The VEA requires the Commission to pursue all relevant debts owed to the Commonwealth unless the debts are not legally recoverable or the Commission considers that it would not be economical to pursue recovery of them.
More ? [5]
1.5.3.3 — Where an amount of VEA pension, allowance or benefit is paid to a person and the person was not legally entitled to receive it, the amount is a debt due to the Commonwealth, and is legally recoverable by the Commission under section 205 [6] VEA.
1.5.3.4 — Recovery of overpayments occur to ensure that welfare recipients receive the correct rate of payment, and to ensure that misdirected funds are redirected to those persons who are genuinely entitled to receive those funds under the legislation.
1.5.4.1 — To ensure that incorrect payments are minimised, DVA emphasises preventative measures for all dealings with clients by ensuring a framework of procedures, controls and systems. These include:
1.5.4.2 — DVA also has controls in place to detect incorrect payments as soon as possible and correct them promptly. These controls include:
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/24283%23comment-form
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/24343%23comment-form
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/24218%23comment-form
[4] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/24244%23comment-form
[5] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/24283#tgt-csref_manual_ftn6
[6] https://clik.dva.gov.au/service-eligibility-assistant-updates/all-determinations-order-date-signed-oldest-most-recent/determinations-under-vea
[7] http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A05251
[8] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/24283#ref-csref_manual_ftn6
[9] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/24184%23comment-form