PENSION RISE, NEW ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS AND WAR WIDOWS

Veterans and war widows/widowers will receive an increase in their pensions this month following the latest round of Consumer Price Index adjustments, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, De-Anne Kelly, announced today.

Veterans and war widows receiving income support payments will also receive the first instalment of a new allowance introduced by the Australian Government to assist with the payment of energy, rates, water and sewerage bills.

Mrs Kelly said veterans’ service pensions and the war widow’s pension would increase by up to $5.60, while disability payments would rise by up to $9.60 per fortnight.

“The pension increase is effective from 20 March, and will flow through to veterans and war widows on the payday of Thursday 31 March, 2005,” Mrs Kelly said.

“The maximum rate of the single service pension will rise to $476.30 per fortnight, while the maximum rate for couples will increase by $4.70 to $397.70 each.

“War widows/widowers will also benefit, with an increase of $5.60 in their pension rate, bringing it to $501.30 per fortnight.”

The ceiling rate of the war widow’s income support supplement, which is paid to some 81,000 war widows and widowers, will rise to $141.60 per fortnight.

Disability pensions will also increase, with the Special (TPI) rate rising to $798.80 per fortnight.

“Veterans’ Affairs income support recipients will also receive the first instalment of the Government’s new utilities allowance,” the Minister said.

“More than 300,000 members of the veteran community will receive the non-taxable allowance of $100 a year for singles and $50 a year for each member of a couple.

“Half the annual amount will be paid on the first pension payday after 20 March and
20 September of each year. The first instalment will be paid on 31 March 2005.”