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Veterans Pension : Contents

Grandparented non-qualified partner with a partner in residential care

A grandparented non-qualified partner living in the community who has a Veteran's Pension partner who is in, or moves into long-term residential care may get a different rate of payment.

Their rate of payment depends on their own living situation.

Partner living alone

Clients in the community who live alone can get the Veteran’s Pension single living alone rate from the date their partner entered care.

Partner not living alone

Clients in the community who are not living alone can get the single sharing accommodation rate from the date their partner entered care.

Income

The client in the community will have their income included in their partner's Financial Means Assessment for Residential Care Subsidy.

However, any income included in their partner's Financial Means Assessment for Residential Care Subsidy is not included as chargeable income against the Veteran's Pension.

Note if the partner does not meet the asset test for Residential Care Subsidy all income is charged against the Veteran's Pension.

Special Disability Allowance

Special Disability Allowance can be paid to the client in the community to assist with extra costs due to their partner being in long term residential care, if the partner in care qualifies for Residential Care Subsidy.

Rate of payment for partner in care

The partner in care will get the half married, civil union or de facto rate of Veteran's Pension.

For more information see:

Income excluded from means assessment of income

Legislation

  • Entitlement to veteran's pension for spouses or partners of persons in long-term residential care section 173 Veterans' Support Act 2014
  • Treatment of partner income section 173(3) Veterans' Support Act 2014
  • income (definition) clause 5, Part 3, Schedule 2 Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018
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A grandparented non-qualified partner is any person who was included in a New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension as a non-qualified partner before 9 November 2020 and is still included after 9 November 2020.

Non-qualified partner - before 9 November 2020

A non-qualified partner is the partner of a New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension client who did not qualify for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension in their own right before ...

A client is considered to be in long-term residential care in a rest home or hospital when it is likely they will remain in care for more than 26 weeks.