DVA Factsheet IS30

Rates and Limits

Pension Rates, Limits and Allowances Summary

Overview

This Factsheet provides the current rates and limits for:

· service pension;

· age pension;

· income support supplement;

· disability pension;

· war widow’s and widower’s pension; and

· all associated allowances under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).

For information about payments under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), refer to Factsheet MRC 04: Compensation Payment Rates.

For information about the calculation of Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) refer to Factsheet IS 19: Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA).

The rates quoted are fortnightly amounts unless otherwise indicated. These rates are current from 1 July 2009 to 19 September 2009.

Service and age pension — maximum rates

Singles rate $ 569.80

Couples rate (each) $ 475.90

Disability pension rates

Special rate (T&PI, blinded or TTI) $1,011.90

Intermediate rate $ 686.60

Extreme disablement adjustment (EDA) $ 558.50

General rate

100% $ 359.50 50% $ 179.75

95% $ 341.53 45% $ 161.78

90% $ 323.55 40% $ 143.80

85% $ 305.58 35% $ 125.83

80% $ 287.60 30% $ 107.85

75% $ 269.63 25% $ 89.88

70% $ 251.65 20% $ 71.90

65% $ 233.68 15% $ 53.93

60% $ 215.70 10% $ 35.95

55% $ 197.73

Additional Disability Pension for Specific Disabilities

Items 1—6 $ 557.70

Item 7 $ 184.30

Item 8 $ 124.40

Items 9 & 10 $ 106.60

Item 11 & 13 $ 53.40

Item 12 & 14 $ 27.80

Item 15 $ 41.30

War widows and widower’s pension

War widow’s/widower’s pension — Indexed component $ 587.50

War widow’s/widower’s pension — Supplement $ 19.50

Total $ 607.00

Income support supplement (ISS)

Ceiling rate $ 170.20

Orphan’s pension

Single orphan $ 84.40

Double orphan $ 168.80

Pharmaceutical allowance

Singles rate $ 6.00

Couples rate (each) $ 3.00

Rent assistance

Maximum amount payable

Singles rate, no children $ 111.20

Couples rate, no children (combined) $ 104.80

Rent thresholds

Singles rate, no children $ 98.80

Couples rate, no children (combined) $ 161.00

Singles rate, with children $ 130.06

Couples rate, with children (combined) $ 192.50

Rent assistance, continued

Note: For service and social security age pensioners with dependent children, rent assistance is considered a child-related payment and is paid as part of Family Tax Benefit Part A through the Family Assistance Office.

Remote area allowance

Singles rate $ 18.20

Couples rate (each) $ 15.60

Each child $ 7.30

Telephone allowance

per quarter

Base rate - singles $ 23.00

Half the base rate - couples (each) $ 11.50

Internet base rate – singles $ 34.60

Half the internet base rate – couples (each) $ 17.30

Note: The internet figures include, and are not additional to, the base telephone allowance rates.

Utilities allowance

Paid quarterly in March, June, September and December

per quarter

Singles rate $ 129.70

Couples rate (each) $ 64.85

Illness or Respite separated (each) $ 129.70

Seniors concession allowance

Paid quarterly in March, June, September and December

per quarter

Singles rate $ 129.70

Couples rate (each when both are CSHC holders) $ 129.70

Family Tax Benefit

Family Tax Benefit may be paid to income support pensioners in respect of dependent children.

Veterans' Affairs income support pensioners receive the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A irrespective of their income. If income support is not received for a period of time, the normal income test for FTB A will apply during that period. This may result in less than the maximum rate of payment being received until the DVA benefit becomes payable again.

Application for and enquiries about payment of this benefit should be made to the Family Assistance Office, which is located in all Medicare offices, Centrelink outlets and ATO access and enquiry sites. You can also visit their Internet site at: www.familyassist.gov.au

Recreation transport allowance

High rate $ 73.80

Low rate $ 36.70

Vehicle Assistance Scheme

per year

Maintenance and running costs $1,918.80

Attendant allowance

High rate $ 276.40

Low rate $ 138.00

Clothing allowance

High rate $ 11.50

Mid rate $ 7.90

Low rate $ 5.30

Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES)

Primary students $ 223.70 (per year)

Secondary and tertiary students (fortnightly rate)

Age At home Living away Homeless

from home

Under 16 $ 46.00 $ 348.46 $ 371.40

16-17 $ 203.30 $ 371.40 $ 371.40

18 & over $ 244.40 $ 371.40 $ 371.40

Decoration allowance

Decoration allowance $ 2.10

Victoria Cross allowance

Victoria Cross allowance of $3,676 per annum is paid to those veterans who have been awarded this decoration.

Income limit before service and Social Security age pension reduces

Singles $ 142.00

Couples (combined) $ 248.00

Illness separated couples (combined) $ 248.00

For each child, increase by: $ 24.60

Assets limit before service and Social Security age pension reduces

Homeowners

Singles $178,000

Couples (combined) $252,500

Illness separated couples (combined) $252,500

Non-homeowners

Singles $307,000

Couples (combined) $381,500

Illness separated couples (combined) $381,500

Service and Social Security age pension Income cut-off limit

Singles $1,581.50

Couples (combined) $2,642.50

Illness separated couples (combined) $3,127.00

Service Pension assets cut-off limit

Homeowner

Singles $562,000

Couples (combined) $891,500

Illness separated couples (combined) $1,020,500

Non-homeowner

Singles $691,000

Couples (combined) $1,020,500

Illness separated couples (combined) $1,149,500

Income and assets cut-off limit for the Gold Card for Service Pensioners

Income per fortnight

Singles $ 403.00

Couples (combined) $ 697.00

For each child, increase by: $ 85.85

Assets

Homeowners

Singles $247,750

Couples (combined) $372,500

Non-homeowners

Singles $376,750

Couples (combined) $501,500

For the 1^st child increase by $16,500

For each of the 2^nd & 3^rd children increase by $16,500

Income limit before Income Support Supplement (ISS) reduces

Singles $1,141.00*

Couples (combined) $1,776.50*

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $2,246.00*

For each child, increase by $ 24.60

Note: *these amounts include the war widows (or widower’s) pension.

Assets limit before ISS reduces

Homeowners

Singles $444,500

Couples (combined) $660,500

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $785,500

Non-homeowners

Singles $573,500

Couples (combined) $789,500

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $914,500

Income cut-off limit for ISS pensioners

Singles $1,566.50*

Couples (combined) $2,627.50*

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $3,097.00*

Note: *these amounts include the war widows (or widower’s) pension.

Assets cut-off limit ISS and Social Security Age pensioners

Homeowner

Singles $558,000

Couples (combined) $887,500

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $1,012,500

Non-homeowner

Singles $687,000

Couples (combined) $1,016,500

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $1,141,500

Income limits for student children / earnings limits for employed children

Employed Child (under 16 years) $8,998.60 per year

Student Child (16-22 years) $9,484.80 per year

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card income limit

Singles $50,000 per year

Couples (combined) $80,000 per year

Illness Separated Couples (combined) $100,000 per year

Deeming

	Singles	Couples
Low	2.0% interest up to the threshold of $42,000	2.0% interest up to the threshold of $70,000
High	3.0% interest for the remaining balance	3.0% interest for the remaining balance

Funeral benefits

Assistance of up to $2,000 is payable towards funeral expenses of certain veterans including T&PI veterans, those whose death is accepted as being war or service caused, and those who died in needy circumstances.

More information

All DVA Factsheets are available from DVA offices, and on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au.

You can phone DVA for the cost of a local call on 133 254

or 1800 555 254 for country callers.

Use a normal landline phone if you can. Mobile phone calls may cost you more.

You can send an email to DVA at: generalenquiries@dva.gov.au.

You can get more help from any DVA office.