House of Representatives
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Exempting Disability Payments from Income Testing and Other Measures) Bill 2021
Explanatory Memorandum
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, The Honourable Andrew Gee MP)VETERANS' AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (EXEMPTING DISABILITY PAYMENTS FROM INCOME TESTING AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2021
This Explanatory Memorandum uses the following abbreviations and acronyms:
| Abbreviation | Definition |
| Above general rate | means pensions by way of compensation paid to severely incapacitated veterans who are unable to earn a normal wage because of conditions caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service on behalf of Australia |
| Adjusted disability pension | means the pensions and payments identified in section 118NA of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 |
| Commission | means the Repatriation Commission |
| Commissioners | means members of the Repatriation Commissions |
| DFISA | means the Defence Force Income Support Allowance |
| Disability Pension | means a pension based on compensation for injuries and diseases caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service on behalf of Australia |
| DSS | means the Department of Social Services |
| General rate | means pensions by way of compensation paid to veterans with conditions caused or aggravated by war or defence service on behalf of Australia |
| MRCA | means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 |
| MRCC Commissioners | means members of the MRCC |
| MRCC | means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission |
| Pension by way of compensation | refers to what was previously referred to as a 'Disability Pension' |
| Rent Assistance | means a non-taxable allowance to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation |
| Social Security Act | means the Social Security Act 1991 |
| social security law | has the same meaning as provided in subsection 23(17) of the Social Security Act 1991 |
| TPI payment or TPI pension | refers to a type of 'above general rate' payment, known as a 'Special Rate' pension, for severely disabled veterans who are unable to have a normal working life because of a permanent incapacity resulting from their war or defence service |
| TPI veteran | means a veteran with a TPI payment |
| VEA | means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 |