Veterans' affairs Policy v4.0
Summary
3.0 Scheme Two
NOTE Cover
Objective
Scheme Two covers veterans with qualifying
Veterans’ Affairs (VA) provides veterans and their families with
operational service since 1 April 1974. This in-
entitlements such as impairment and income compensation,
cludes deployments such as Timor Leste, Afgha-
and services such as home help and gardening.
nistan and Iraq.
NOTE Entitlements
Owner
[Out of Scope]
Entitlements are aligned with ours, but paid at a
slightly higher rate. This continues the bene-
Expert
volence shown by the Government towards vet-
erans who have been affected as a result of their
Policy
service as specified in Scheme One, and in the
previous legislation.
1.0 Governing Legislation
a New legislation was introduced in 2014 which expanded
NOTE Impairment compensation
the assistance Veterans’ Affairs was able to provide to
For impairment linked to service between 1 April
veterans. The Veterans’ Support Act 2014 defines assis-
1974 and 31 March 2002:
tance and services such as treatment and rehabilitation
to veterans and contains two schemes. Scheme One
• an independence allowance paid at the same
covers veterans who served in the New Zealand Armed
rate as the Scheme One disablement pension is
Forces prior to 1 April 1974 and Scheme Two covers vet-
available
erans with qualifying operational service since 1 April
• a lump sum payment is available in exchange
1974.
for stopping periodic payments for one year. The
payment is subject to a discount rate which is set
Veterans' Support Act 2014
in our Regulations, and is based on the long
https://www.westlaw.co.nz/maf/wlnz/app/document?d
term risk free rates of investment returns and
inflation that is published by Treasury.
2.0 Scheme One
For impairment linked to service from 1 April
NOTE Cover
2002 onwards:
Scheme One covers veterans who served in the
• a lump sum payment is available. The payment
New Zealand Armed Forces prior to 1 April 1974.
scale ranges from 5% impairment to 85% impair-
ment. Payment rates for the 5-80% scale are
NOTE Entitlements
based on our rates, but set at a rate 20% higher
Entitlements are based on those available under
than ours
the previous legislation; the War Pensions Act
1954.
• VA developed payment rates for the 5-9% and
81-85% scale. These rates range from $2,500
for 5% impairment through to $192,826 for
NOTE Impairment compensation – disablement
impairment of 85% or more.
pension
This applies to any temporary or permanent
impairment that is determined to be linked to a
NOTE Weekly compensation (WC):
veteran’s service. The payment rates range from
• available for veterans who are unable to work
$10.90 per week for impairment of 5%, to the
as a result of a service-related impairment
maximum rate of $383.78 per week for impair-
ment of 85% or greater.
• paid at a rate of 100% of the veteran’s pre-
injury earnings for the first year, and 85% for the
period thereafter. This is slightly higher than our
NOTE Income compensation – weekly income
rate to again reflect the benevolence provided to
compensation
veterans in recognition of their service to New
This applies if a veteran is unable to work. It’s
Zealand.
paid at the rate of 80% of the average wage, cur-
rently $862 per week before tax.
NOTE Compensation for veteran’s families
This is available for eligible family members of
deceased veterans in the form of:
• surviving spouse or partner pension ($160.86
per week tax free)
• children’s pension ($172.25 per week tax free)
• dependant’s pension ($160.86 per week tax
free).
ACC > Claims Management > Manage Claims > Operational Policies > Managing Claims at ACC > Claim management > Veterans' affairs Policy
Uncontrolled Copy Only : Version 4.0 : Last Edited Wednesday, 5 June 2024 4:34 pm : Printed Wednesday, 15 April 2026 5:03 pm
Page 1 of 2
NOTE Compensation for veteran’s families
b ACC can request personal information from VA to
Available for eligible family members of de-
• assess or reassess the eligibility or entitlement of a vet-
ceased veterans:
eran for services
• facilitate rehabilitation and treatment of a veteran, which
• survivor grant ($25,000 for the surviving
may include the joint supply of rehabilitation and treat-
spouse/partner and $10,000 for children/
ment by ACC and Veterans’ Affairs
dependent(s))
• assist in reviews and appeals against decisions re-
garding services where Veterans’ Affairs determines the
• weekly compensation (60% of the veteran’s
information is required to assist the decision
pre-death earnings for the surviving spouse/
partner; 20% shared between children and 20%
This information can be provided without a signed con-
for dependant(s)).
sent from the client. The exchange of information is per-
mitted under the Privacy (Information Sharing Agreement
Scheme Two entitlements are aligned with our
Facilitating Services for Veterans and Other Claimants)
entitlements, recognising that due to the nature
Order 2024.
of the types of injuries suffered by veterans,
many of their conditions are also accepted by us.
c Refer to Schedule 2 ACC, Privacy (Information Sharing
Agreement Facilitating Services for Veterans and Other
In cases where a veteran’s condition has been
Claimants) Order 2024
accepted by us, VA will pay the difference be-
tween our rate and the VA rate.
Privacy (Information Sharing Agreement Facilitating
Services for Veterans and Other Claimants) Order
If there is no entitlement to ACC, VA will pay the
2024
ACC amount as well as the top up. This ensures
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2024/
that all veterans receive the same amount of
compensation, no matter whether their claim has
been accepted by us or not.
Timeframes
NOTE Treatment and rehabilitation
None Noted
VA provides treatment and rehabilitation to vet-
erans with service-related illnesses and injuries.
If we have determined that we will provide cover
and rehabilitation to a veteran, the rehabilitation
advisor will contact us to understand what
rehabilitation is being provided, including any
goals/outcomes and actions that have been set.
We will take the lead on providing the rehabil-
itation. We can be expected to cover rehabil-
itation to work-fit status for accident and injury-
related conditions.
VA may, subject to consultation with us, “top up”
the ACC rehabilitation if it decides the veteran
need more assistance. VA will notify us of any
rehabilitation that they decide to provide. They
may also fund any treatment not covered by us.
NOTE Management of claims covered by ACC and
Veterans’ Affairs NZ
We are not required to proactively identify these
claims as we will be notified when a veteran cov-
ered by us is eligible for Scheme Two.
4.0 Exchange of Veterans' Personal and Health
Information without the need for a consent form
a At the request of VA, ACC can provide the following:
• Information to identify the individual, including current
name, previous names, date of birth, place of birth, and
contact details (noting though that we are unlikely to
know the place of birth)
• ACC entitlement information - Details relating to the cur-
rent and previous services provided by ACC to a veteran,
including type of assistance and financial value
• ACC status - Fact of a veteran having cover for a per-
sonal injury
This information can be provided without a signed con-
sent from the client. The exchange of information is per-
mitted under the Privacy (Information Sharing Agreement
Facilitating Services for Veterans and Other Claimants)
Order 2024
ACC > Claims Management > Manage Claims > Operational Policies > Managing Claims at ACC > Claim management > Veterans' affairs Policy
Uncontrolled Copy Only : Version 4.0 : Last Edited Wednesday, 5 June 2024 4:34 pm : Printed Wednesday, 15 April 2026 5:03 pm
Page 2 of 2
