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Financial Assistance

Veteran’s Pension

The Ministry of Social Development administers Veteran’s Pension. Any questions regarding Veteran’s Pensions should be directed to 0800 559 009.

People who have served in a war or emergency and are not yet 65 (qualifying age for New Zealand Superannuation) can be considered for a Veteran’s Pension if they are not able to work either permanently or for a long period.

Ex-Service people who receive New Zealand Superannuation and also receive a War Disablement Pension may be eligible to transfer from New Zealand Superannuation to Veteran’s Pension.

Veteran’s Pension is paid at the same rate as New Zealand Superannuation with the following advantages:

• the Veteran’s Pension does not reduce if recipients are hospitalised for a period of 13 weeks or more.
• if recipients receive a Veteran’s Pension on account of their service in a war or emergency, they are automatically entitled to a Community Services Card and the SuperGold Card, specifically for veterans.
• the spouse, civil union partner, de facto partner or dependent child of a veteran, who is ordinarily resident in New Zealand and is in receipt of a Veteran’s Pension on the day he or she dies, will receive a lump sum payment.
• a veteran, who is ordinarily resident in New Zealand and is in receipt of a Veteran’s Pension, will receive a lump sum payment on the death of his or her spouse, civil union partner or de facto partner, if the spouse, civil union partner or de facto partner is in receipt of a Veteran’s Pension on the day he or she dies.

Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (VANZ) administers:

• War Disablement Pensions
• Surviving Spouse Pensions.

Any questions regarding War Disablement Pensions and Surviving Spouse Pensions should be directed to 0800 483 8372.

War Disablement Pension

War Disablement Pensions are a compensatory award for service people who have a disability as a result of their service. They are non-taxable, non-income tested pensions that are assessed according to the degree of disablement.

Eligibility

To get a War Disablement Pension a veteran must have served with the New Zealand armed forces prior to 1 April 1974 (this is when ACC started) or in a declared war or emergency since this date.  Veterans can also qualify if they served overseas with another Commonwealth country during a war or emergency in which New Zealand armed forces served, as long as they were a resident of New Zealand just before the commencement of the war or emergency.

Surviving Spouse Pension

Surviving Spouse Pensions are a compensatory award for the partners of service people who were either paid a War Disablement Pension at 70 per cent or more, or who died as a result of their service in the armed forces. They are non-taxable, non-income tested pensions.

Special allowances

Veterans who reside in New Zealand may also qualify for special allowances such as:

• attendant allowances
• car loans
• children’s pensions
• clothing allowances
• war funeral grants
• gallantry awards
• hearing aid grants
• orphan’s pensions
• private hospital treatment
• specialist treatment
• surgical and mechanical appliances
• transport and travelling expenses
• war bursaries.