Planning Ahead - A GUIDE TO PUTTING YOUR AFFAIRS IN …

1 Planning Ahead A GUIDE TO PUTTING your AFFAIRS IN order . P R E PAR I N G F OR A N D COPI N G W ITH B E R EAV EMENT. ISBN 978 1 920720 81 0. Commonwealth of Australia 2008. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS by email to Images courtesy of the Australian Government Departments of Health and Ageing and Veterans'. AFFAIRS ; and Getty Images. Published by the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS , Canberra, 2008. P000063 October 2008. Revised February 2016.

2 FOREWORD. Many members of the veteran community are reaching a stage in life in which they may be considering the impact that bereavement could have on their loved ones. In particular, they may be thinking about what they can do now to assist their loved ones manage such an event in the future. Planning Ahead has been designed to provide information to help veterans and their families prepare for bereavement. We hope that the information will be useful for you. The personal information and checklists included in the booklet and folder will help ensure that important information is available to families when it is needed. Many ex-service organisations and a number of other key organisations have assisted with this booklet, including the Public Trustee's Office, the Law Society of New South Wales, Tobin Brothers Funeral Directors, and the Australian Pensioners and Superannuants Federation.

3 The cooperation and contribution of these organisations has been invaluable. FOREWORD. The services and organisations listed in the booklet, including the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS , are always ready to provide whatever assistance you may require. You occupy a special place within the Australian community. The Australian Government and the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS are committed to listening to your needs and responding in a way that recognizes your importance in Australia's past, present and future. 1. CONTENTS. 1. Help from the Department of Veterans' Help from ex-service 6. Legal and financial 7. your will Power of attorney Advance care Planning Financial Planning 2. Living independently in your own Housing options Veterans' Home Care CONTENTS.

4 Defence Service Homes Scheme Hardship and loans for housing repairs Home Support Loans Defence Service Homes Insurance Assistance in the provision of 19. Respite care Residential aged care Palliative care When a death 21. Pre-paid funerals Funerals Funeral benefits War graves Notifying the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS and Defence Service Homes Bereavement payments and pensions (VEA).. 27. Bereavement payments Surviving partners receiving service and age pension payments War widow's and widower's pension Income support supplement Orphan's pension Compensation and other benefits for 33. Period of service and claim for compensation CONTENTS. MRCA compensation and other benefits SRCA and Defence Act compensation and other benefits Coping with 41.

5 The experience of grief and dealing with it 3. How the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS). can help with grief Loneliness Looking after your health Assistance for families Reviewing financial arrangements and your ongoing Superannuation insurance and other financial matters Re-assessing your needs Reference 49. Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS addresses, email and telephone numbers Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS Publications and Factsheets Acknowledgements Note: It is important to remember that information relating to monetary payments, interest rates and home loans is valid at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please seek confirmation at time of application.

6 INTRODUCTION. The purpose of this GUIDE is to help you get your personal AFFAIRS in order and to provide information on the services available for family and friends after your death. This GUIDE has been written for members of the veteran and defence force communities and their families. It contains information that will be useful to their carers and the people who act on their behalf or who help and advise them. Losing a family member is one of the most distressing events that can happen to anyone. By ensuring that your personal AFFAIRS are in order , you can make it easier for your loved ones to manage at this difficult time. How to use this GUIDE Planning Ahead can be used alongside your up-to-date personal records as a GUIDE to the services available to family and friends after your death.

7 The names of organisations that may be able to help at this time are also included. It is useful for you to be aware of the information in this booklet and accompanying folder before there is a need for it. If you complete the personal information sheets, medical details form and checklists included, you can ensure the relevant information 4 is available when it is needed. If you have any questions about departmental services please feel free to raise INTRODUCTION. them with your nearest Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS (DVA) office. We would also be interested in your feedback regarding this package and any suggestions for improvements. As well as this booklet, the Planning Ahead package includes: Planning Ahead A Checklist for Notification (P00068).

8 This lists all the key people to be contacted in the event of your death. Personal Information Sheet (D8729). This helps your family with all the details of your personal AFFAIRS . Medical Details of Veteran (D8730). This information might be of assistance for a claim for a war widow(er)'s pension. HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS . HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF. VETERANS' AFFAIRS . The Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS offers a range of services and information to entitled members of the veteran and service community, their dependants and carers. This includes: income support pensions and allowances for veterans and their eligible dependants;. compensation (disability) pensions to veterans and members and former members of the Australian Defence Force.

9 Medical treatment for veterans and members and their eligible dependants;. possible financial contribution toward the cost of funerals;. commemoration of the graves of eligible ex-service personnel;. assistance with finance for homes (buying, repairs and renovations);. Veterans' Home Care;. respite care; 5. residential aged care;. home and contents insurance;. Pension Loans Scheme; and bereavement counselling through the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service for entitled persons and families. This GUIDE contains further details on some of these services. If you have any questions, please telephone the Department of Veterans' AFFAIRS office on 133 254, regional callers 1800 555 254.

10 The staff will be able to answer your questions and can provide you with the address of the DVA office closest to you. Note: DVA is unable to supply specific information on an individual to the individual's family without authorisation. This privacy constraint ceases once an individual is deceased. If DVA. cannot assist you with services or relevant information, we will put you in touch with someone who can. HELP FROM EX-SERVICE. ORGANISATIONS. Ex-service organisations provide help to ex-service personnel and their families. There are a number of ex-service organisations in the community you may be a member of one or more. There are also organisations that help widows and widowers of ex-service personnel, such as Legacy and the War Widows' Guild.