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Veteran / war widow
- Daily fees (more information)
- Income tested fees (more information)
- War widows and widowers
- Privacy protection
- Can I seek a review of my income assessment?
- What if I’m an ex-prisoner of war?
- Respite care for entitled veterans war widows or widowers (more information)
- accommodation payments to help meet the cost of accommodation, and
- daily fees to help meet the cost of care.
Daily fees
People living in aged care homes may be asked to pay a basic daily fee and, depending on their income and how much care they need an income tested fee. Income tested fees are not payable by full means tested pensioners and Australian ex-prisoners of war.The Department of Health and Ageing will calculate any income tested fees based on income figures supplied by DVA or Centrelink (more information).
If you receive a service pension, the Department will calculate your income tested fee using the income figure in your service pension assessment. If you or your partner receive a disability pension or war widow’s or widower’s pension from DVA, and you have qualifying service (more information), the disability pension and war widow’s or widower’s pension will not be taken into account for the income tested fee.
War widows and widowers who do not have qualifying service will also have any disability pension from DVA excluded from the assessment for the income tested fee. But they will have their war widow’s or widower’s pension counted as income for daily fees in an aged care home.
If you are not a war widow or widower, do not have qualifying service and do not receive a service pension, Centrelink will assess your income. Any disability pension you receive will be assessed as income.
War widows and widowers
If you are a war widow or widower and, in addition, receive the maximum amount of income support supplement, a discount will be applied in calculating your maximum income tested fee. This is so that you are not disadvantaged compared with other income support pensioners whose rate of pension is not limited to a ceiling.Privacy protection
To protect your privacy, only a total income amount will be provided by DVA to the Department of Health and Ageing for the purpose of calculating your income tested fees. No details or breakdown of that income amount will be provided.You may also ask DVA not to provide income details to the Department of Health and Ageing. If you do, however, you may be asked to pay either the maximum income tested fee, or the cost of your care, whichever is lower.
Can I seek a review of my income assessment?
Yes. You can apply to DVA or Centrelink to review your income assessment if you are dissatisfied with the income amount used to calculate your income tested fee.What if I’m an ex-prisoner of war?
If you are an Australian ex-prisoner of war and live in an aged care home, DVA will pay your basic daily fee. You will not pay any income tested fees.Respite care for entitled veterans and war widows or widowers
Like all Australians assessed as needing respite (short-term) care in an aged care home, veterans and war widows or widowers may receive up to 63 days of respite in a financial year. Extensions are available in special circumstances.If you are an entitled veteran or war widow or widower, DVA may pay your basic daily fee for up to 28 days in a financial year. After 28 days, you are responsible for paying the fee yourself. You may choose to use your 28 days as a combination of in-home or residential respite.
If you are an Australian ex-prisoner of war, DVA will pay the basic daily fee for the full length of your stay in an aged care home.
Access to DVA’s respite care services is available through the Veterans’ Home Care program by calling 1300 550 450.
The Aged Care Information Line, telephone 1800 500 853, can provide further information or advice.
Common questions on this topic:
- I am a veteran and would like to live in an aged care home with other veterans.
- I am a war veteran from another country but now an Australian citizen. Should I go to DVA or Centrelink for my income assessment?
- I receive a pension from DVA but don't know if it is means tested.
See more common questions on this topic | See all common questions