Veterans’ Entitlements (Invalidity Service Pension – Permanent Incapacity for Work) Determination 2023

Dated                           5 September 2023       

The Seal of the Repatriation Commission was affixed hereto in the presence of:

1  Name

                   This instrument is the Veterans’ Entitlements (Invalidity Service Pension ─ Permanent Incapacity for Work) Determination 2023.

2  Commencement

                   This instrument commences on the day after registration.

3  Authority

                   This instrument is made under section 37AA of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

4  Interpretation

Note:   Terms used in this instrument have the same meaning as they do in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986. For example, the following are defined in that Act:

·         Approved Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans’ Pensions;

·         Commission;

·         Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission;

·         MRCA.

                   In this instrument:

Act means the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

Special Rate Disability Pension has the same meaning as in section 5 of the MRCA.

Department means the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

5  Schedules

                   Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

6  Savings

             (1)  This section applies to a person who, immediately before the commencement of this instrument, was permanently incapacitated for work under the Veterans’ Entitlements (Invalidity Service Pension ─ Permanent Incapacity for Work) Determination 2013.

             (2)  On the commencement of this instrument, the person is taken to be permanently incapacitated for work under this instrument.

7  Circumstances when permanently incapacitated for work

                   For paragraph 37(1)(c) of the Act, a person is permanently incapacitated for work if:

(a)    at least one of the following applies to the person:

                              (i)   the person is permanently blind in both eyes;

                             (ii) the person receives a special rate of pension under section 24 of the Act;

                            (iii)  the person receives a Special Rate Disability Pension;

                            (iv)  the person would receive a Special Rate Disability Pension but for the application of section 204 or section 415 or both of the MRCA to the person;

                             (v)  the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission is satisfied the person meets the eligibility criteria mentioned in subsection 199(1) of the MRCA; or

                     (b)  all of the following are met:

                              (i)  the person has an impairment that, if it was an injury or disease for the Approved Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans’ Pensions, would result in a combined impairment rating of 40 or more under Table 18.1 of the Guide;

                             (ii)  because of the impairment, the person is permanently unable to work for more than 8 hours a week;

                            (iii)  the Commission is satisfied that the impairment is permanent.

Schedule 1—Repeals

Veterans’ Entitlements (Invalidity Service Pension ─ Permanent Incapacity for Work) Determination 2013

1  The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.