The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has extended the pension of a service personnel partner to continue for at least 12 months following a separation, regardless of their marital status.
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester said $6.2 million would be provided to support changes to the Partner Service Pension, which previously allowed access only to current partners and married partners separating.
“The Government has listened to the views of the ex-service community, in particular those raised through the Female Veterans and Veterans’ Families policy forum, to remove the inequity between married and de-facto partners,” Mr Chester said.
“Where the veteran has a mental health condition recognised by DVA and there was an unsafe or abusive domestic environment to the partner or their family prior to separation, former partners will remain eligible to receive the Partner Service Pension until they enter into a new relationship.”
He said the measure would assist partners who left an abusive relationship by providing them with financial support.
“Families play a critical role supporting current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and it is vital we look after them too, which includes ensuring all former partners of veterans continue to have access to the assistance they need,” Mr Chester said.
He said former partners included de-facto partners of a veteran, someone who was in a registered relationship with a veteran and someone married to, or divorced from, a veteran.