[Matthew Saunders]

Hi Maria,

If the DVA confirmation says “Yes” to disability on their online confirmation you can take it that they are eligible and proceed with approving the application. If it says no, it is probably unlikely that they are entitled, however you will need to refer them back to DVA to get the DVA to advise which section of the Veterans Entitlement Act 1986 (VEA 1986) their pension was assessed (see point (4) below).

DVA customers must satisfy one of these criteria to be eligible (legislation paraphrased):

(1) Hold a pensioner concession card from DVA or Centrelink.
(2) War widow/Widower/widowed mother etc and eligible for pensioner Concession Card (will usually be on an ISS payment if eligible).
(3)Person receiving lumps sum under MRCA meeting assets/income test
(4)Person receiving pension adjusted for extreme disablement under section 22(4) of the VEA 1986 or a special rate under Section 24 of that Act.
(5)Person receives/has received Special Rate disability pension under MRCA 2004.

Your customer may be eligible under part (4) above, however they will need to get DVA to confirm write what section of the VEA 1986 their pension has been determined as a pension under extreme disablement under 22(4) or special rate pension under 24.

It is unfortunate that these customers must keep going back to the DVA, however there are multitudes of payments and pensions available to veterans under Commonwealth legislation, but there are only a specific few that entitle veterans to rates discounts under our State legislation.

Kind regards,
Matthew.