a message for all serving and ex military members

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 16th July 2012, 06:27 PM

Bob

Out of interest, what is the level of compulsory contributions for Defence personnel? (Remember that the general public its 9% or at least that is the mandated employer contribution.)

And remember not all people in public service receive the same as the Commonwealth Public Service pension scheme. For many they are the same as those in the private sector. And private sector superannuants do not get any CPI adjustments, till they expend everything and go on the aged pension.

**101RRS** · 16th July 2012, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

till they expend everything and go on the aged pension.

I have calculated that at the rate of increase in the old age pension and the much slower rate of my DFRDB pension I will be eligible for at least a part payment by pension eligibility age and will get almost 100% pension about 6 years later.

**bob10** · 16th July 2012, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Bob

Out of interest, what is the level of compulsory contributions for Defence personnel? (Remember that the general public its 9% or at least that is the mandated employer contribution.)

And remember not all people in public service receive the same as the Commonwealth Public Service pension scheme. For many they are the same as those in the private sector. And private sector superannuants do not get any CPI adjustments, till they expend everything and go on the aged pension.

To tell you the truth, I don't know, I've been out of the service since 1985. I will try to find out for you. I know we were paying 5.5% ,but that was at a long time ago, I'm fairly sure there was no compulsory super for all then. The general public relied on the age pension, paid by Gov.. arrangements were a contracted condition of service. Bob You have to remember our super and disability

**bob10** · 16th July 2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Bob

Out of interest, what is the level of compulsory contributions for Defence personnel? (Remember that the general public its 9% or at least that is the mandated employer contribution.)

And remember not all people in public service receive the same as the Commonwealth Public Service pension scheme. For many they are the same as those in the private sector. And private sector superannuants do not get any CPI adjustments, till they expend everything and go on the aged pension.

To tell you the truth, I don't know, I've been out of the service since 1985. I will try to find out for you. I know we were paying 5.5% ,but that was at a long time ago, I'm fairly sure there was no compulsory super for all then. The general public relied on the age pension, paid by Gov.. you have to remember, our super and disability arrangements were a contracted condition of service. Bob

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 16th July 2012, 07:22 PM

Hi Bob

For the first 10 years of my career nurses in NSW had no super then they introduced SASS which was a $3 for every $1 you contributed, but was limited to something like 9%. Then State Treasury realised the burden it was creating so stopped taking new participants and opened First State Super which is essentially exactly the same as any other industry super fund. The problem was that they talked people into transferring to FSS or transferred them automatically if they changed jobs within the public hospital system.

At the same time the other state public servants were on State Super which is much like the Commonwealth PS Super scheme, so these people (the ones in head office trashing our super,) were on a good indexed pension scheme.

It the same with Defence personnel all Governments want to walk all over people who have idealism however misplaced. Had we had a shooting war when I was in my 20s or 30s I would have signed up as a Defence Nurse in a second. By the time of Afghanistan and Iraq my back had been injured in a work incident and I was unfit to enlist.

**Barefoot Dave** · 16th July 2012, 08:01 PM

Money where my mouth is. I've signed up.
Dave.

**bob10** · 16th July 2012, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Bob

Had we had a shooting war when I was in my 20s or 30s I would have signed up as a Defence Nurse in a second.

Nursing is one of the most noble professions, requiring dedication and sacrifice, much like the military. And like the military, the profession attracts idealists who can blinded by their passion , and can be taken advantage of by a system that requires blind obedience for it to work. That's fine, if the system looks after those who need help at the end of the day. Too often, that doesn't happen. There's an empty feeling inside when you realise the organisation you sacrificed so much for , willingly, at the end of the day regards you as just a drain on the public purse. I'm glad you didn't get your shooting War, no one needs one of those. I also know you would have done a great job. Bob

**Bigbjorn** · 16th July 2012, 09:11 PM

My time in the Commonwealth Public Service you had to pay in a minimum 5% or could contribute extra up to 10%. At no time did the government contribute one cent to the CSS fund until the mandatory then 3% employer contributions were legislated. On retirement you could take your own contributions and do something with it. I commuted mine to allocated pensions with another fund. Or, you could leave it in the CSS and get a non-indexed pension from it. The government, who, remember, never paid anything in, pays an indexed pension to the retiree. Indexation is by their own CPI formula which gave me $0.85 increase per fortnight recently.

**bob10** · 17th July 2012, 06:43 AM

If you are indexed by CPI, you can calculate how much spending power you have lost with this graph;

Calculate your loss

Written by Super User |

In this graph MTAWE is the base constant against which are shown the relative cumulative
percentage increases or decreases, over time, of the several classes of Commonwealth pensions.

The graph shows the ravages of what CPI only indexation has done to Military Pensions overall.

To see (using your own data) how this erosion due to CPI only indexation has affected you personally then click HERE
The result is sure to make you appreciate how much you are likely to lose in the future if we don't restore pension indexation to its original "purchasing power" intent. Bob

**bob10** · 17th July 2012, 07:03 PM

VETERANS’ HEALTH

Written by T |

The major health areas of focus include:

Mental Health Disorders and rehabilitation.
Accommodation Care of younger physically disabled veterans where there may or may not be co-existing mental illness.
Support for Carers.

1. Mental Health Disorders and Rehabilitation

A Government-funded, national mental health rehabilitation scheme is needed for veterans suffering with chronic mental health problems.
The scheme should be based on individual case assessment and management programs and include, where necessary, accommodation assistance options..
During 2004/2006 a DVA funded veterans' mental health project was conducted. Recommendation 5 of the Project's Report states "That DVA provides support, including financial support, for appropriate community accommodation models to meet the needs of veterans with mental health issues e.g. step-down accommodation for short term rehabilitation, care review/renewal and relapse support."
The need for such accommodation is also supported by the July 2006 report of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Proposal: Early implementation of Recommendation 5: That DVA provides support, including financial support, for appropriate community accommodation models to meet the needs of veterans with mental health issues e.g. step-down accommodation for short term rehabilitation, care review/renewal and relapse support."
2.1 Health Accommodation – Younger Veterans

Within the ex-service community, a small number of veterans aged 30 to 50 are unable to live independently or with their families as a result of significant physical, medical or emotional care needs. A system is needed to ensure access to appropriate accommodation for disabled veterans who require 24-hour supported living but are too young to qualify for aged care services.
At present no agency/government department has responsibility for finding appropriate residential accommodation and associated care. This is despite the COAG meeting of 2007, at which money was allocated by all States and the Federal Government toward the construction of such a facility, that would accommodate under 50 year olds, including younger veterans. The Younger Persons in Residential Care Program has not yet delivered any significant number of places. As a result, younger people continue to be co-located in residential aged care, including in dementia units.
The need for residential accommodation must be addressed both in the short term, rehabilitation phase and also for those who require longer term supportive accommodation with mental health assistance according to a recognized care plan.
Proposal: That identified processes be established within DVA, to provide a seamless and responsive approach toward accommodating severely incapacitated young veterans.
2.2 Residential Disability Care – Younger Veterans

There are consistently reported numbers of younger veterans, most often with Gold Card entitlements, who require disability accommodation and support care.
Support for veterans in a congregate residential setting needs to be created, with DVA providing adequate capital and ongoing support for veterans who are Gold/White Card holders.
Proposal: That DVA fund the establishment of a number of services/facilities in major population centres where the bulk of the veteran population lives.
3.1 Veterans' Carers

DVA Recognition of the Role of Partners Who are Carers of Disabled Veterans
Increasing numbers of veterans are being diagnosed as high care and many of these veterans are being cared for by their spouse/partner in their own home, having no wish to be placed in a care facility, particularly if they are of a younger age.
Spouses/partners who become carers give up their employment and devote their lives to care for their disabled veteran. By no longer being employed, these partners are not able to accrue superannuation to provide for their own old age. These carers deserve support to continue their caring role. There are very few carers who do not suffer ill health and/or some disability brought about by the constant care they give to their disabled veteran
As a result, the veteran could be forced into a full care facility earlier than necessary because the caregiver is not well enough to continue in her/his caring role. Eventually, the Government may be faced with the cost of caring for two instead of one.
Proposals: *That DVA be given direct responsibility for partners who are carers of disabled veterans.
*That the Government provide a Health Plan/Program for carers of veterans to enable them to continue in their caring role.
3.2 Carer's Allowance Cut Offs:

· Currently Carer's Allowance payment is cancelled after the veteran has been hospitalised for six weeks.
· Centrelink advises they pay for 63 days in one year with an additional 63 days (a total of 126 days) if the Veteran is transferred into an approved Aged Care Facility after their hospital stay for respite or convalescent care. As soon as they are discharged, the carer must re-apply for payment.
Proposal: That the carer allowance be suspended after 126 days. Once the veteran has been discharged and is home again the Dept can then be advised to re-start the Carer allowance from that date.
3.3 Transport Plan for carers while Veteran in Hospital

· Carers who accompany a veteran to hospital are left to find their own way home when the hospitalised and does not return with them. It is unacceptable for the partner/carer to be obliged to find their own way home.
Proposal: That DVA develop a transport plan for carers returning home from accompanying their veteran to hospital.
3.4 Subsidised Accommodation

· Many carers experience great difficulty in visiting their hospitalised veterans . Their visits are vital to the recovery and well being of the veteran.
Proposal: That subsidised accommodation be provided to enable carers to be available to veterans who are hospitalised away from their home.
3.5 Inadequate Respite Care

· The effect on the mental and physical health of many partners/carers of veterans has been profound and if the condition of the veteran deteriorates the carer then has the added burden of insufficient respite care.
· A carer is allowed only 196 hours (3.76hrs per week) of respite care per annum. This is totally inadequate when a carer is providing high level, full-time care in the home.
· While palliative care in a hospice is available, those veterans who also suffer from PTSD are often not amenable to leaving their homes.
Proposals: * That respite care be monitored by DVA, with a dedicated DVA Case Manager whose role is to tap in to any other community or government department to access additional respite care.
* That respite hours be increased to 260 per annum.
4 Departmental Responsibility

Proposal: That DVA be designated as the agency to administer the support provided to the carers of veterans

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