This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

This determination sets an annual spending cap for Special Disability Trusts that support veterans or their dependents with severe disabilities.

Special Disability Trusts allow families to set aside money and assets to pay for the care and accommodation needs of a person with severe disability, without affecting that person's pension or benefits. While the main purpose of these trusts is to cover essential care costs (like medical treatment, housing, and daily care), they can also spend money on other things that benefit the person with the disability—such as holidays, hobbies, or social activities.

This instrument sets the limit on that "discretionary" spending:

For the 2017–18 financial year: The trust can spend up to $11,750 on these additional benefits (on top of the primary care costs)

This determination replaces the 2016 version, updating the dollar amount for the new financial year while keeping the same rules.

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Repatriation Commission

Veterans’ Entitlements (Special Disability Trust — Discretionary Spending) Determination 2017

Instrument 2017 No. R18

I, Simon Hill, delegate of the Repatriation Commission, make this determination under subsection 52ZZZWEA(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated this 8 day of May 2017

Simon Hill

……………………………………………………

SIMON HILL

1 Name

This Determination is the Veterans’ Entitlements (Special Disability

Trust — Discretionary Spending) Determination 2017.

2 Commencement

This Determination commences on 1 July 2017.

3 Revocation

The Veterans’ Entitlements (Special Disability Trust — Discretionary Spending) Determination 2016 is revoked.

4 Definitions

In this Determination:

Act means the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

special disability trust has the meaning given by section 52ZZZW of the Act.

5 Discretionary spending for other purposes

For subsection 52ZZZWEA(3) of the Act, the maximum value of income and assets that can be applied by a special disability trust for other purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary (other than purposes that are the primary purpose of the special disability trust) is $11,750 for the financial year commencing on 1 July 2017.

1 Veterans' Entitlements (Special Disability Trust — Discretionary Spending) Determination 2017