More eligible for veteran healthcare card thanks to new criteria

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The whole welfare system has become so complex that often benefits are underutilised because few people know of their existence. A case in point is the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) White Card. A reader who is a specialist in this area tells me that new eligibility criteria for a White Card can benefit many of our retiring and retired readers.

The new amendments to eligibility have paved the way for a range of financial advantages, some of which can be obtained with just a single day of defence service.

New eligibility means as much as 10 per cent of the population could be in line for a veterans card.Credit: Glenn Campbell

If the recent census is to be believed this means the DVA White Card is now accessible to a staggering 10 per cent of the population.

Among the most apparent advantages of the card is health coverage. This includes access to private psychological support services and coverage for various cancers for people with three-plus years of service.

The reader wrote: “As a 60-year-old who left the service 35 years ago without any issues, the white card has given me a direct financial benefit in the last financial year of $13,000! There is now a concept of Non-Liability Health Coverage meaning certain conditions do not have to be linked to defence service to get coverage or compensation.”

“I now receive private treatment for sunspots and skin pre-cancer lesions plus cancers if that inevitably happens. The relationship with DVA also opened the door for me to seek further recognition and compensation for a knee injury all those years ago which only now gives me grief. ”

But the benefits of holding a DVA White Card extend far beyond healthcare. Veterans of any age are entitled to a wide range of financial perks, regardless of their income or retirement status. For instance, veterans can enjoy a 50 per cent discount on Translink services and many doctor visits are also eligible for bulk billing, relieving financial burdens associated with routine medical care.

In addition, veterans receive a small fortnightly payment of $9.20, which increases as DVA recognises the state of reported conditions.

If you are married to, in a de facto relationship with, or separated from, a member/veteran (including same-sex relationships), you may be eligible for benefits as a partner. If you are a widow or widower of an eligible member/veteran, you may be able to access financial assistance and other benefits. Financial assistance, student support services including education schemes, guidance and counselling services may be available to children of eligible veterans.

While it is true that the veterans department has garnered a reputation for being challenging to deal with, thankfully, accessing the initial threshold of the DVA White Card is relatively straightforward.

Any veteran with some permanent service is eligible, regardless of the length of that service. By simply registering online with their name, rank, and service number, veterans can open the door. It’s an overdue and most welcome change in the rules.

Noel Whittaker is the author of Retirement Made Simple and other books on personal finance. Email: [email protected]

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.

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