Excerpt from Camaraderie Vol 36, No 2, p13

ADVOCACY MATTERS

CASE HISTORY: SPECIAL RATE PENSION AWARDED AND BACKDATED TO TIME OF APPLICATION

This case refers to a Royal Australian Naval Officer who served with distinction during World War 11. The officer was very successful in his chosen profession after discharge from the Navy and he and his wife were financially secure.

He married a second time after the death of his first wife and continued in his profession long after most people had retired. However, his health began to deteriorate to the point where he could no longer work and he was finally totally incapacitated and confined to a nursing home.

During his period of declining health neither he nor his second wife wished to seek financial assistance and indeed were unaware that his problems may have been attributed to War Service.

Their finances dwindled to the point where they were forced to seek help and were recommended to contact one of the RDFWA's Pensions Officers. The case was taken up in July 2004 and finalised in March 2005.

The retired officer was unable to be of much assistance as he was confined to a nursing home after several strokes and a heart condition, however, his wife was most helpful to the Pensions Officer acting on his behalf.

The case was finalised with the determination that he was to be awarded a Special Rate Pension backdated to July 2004 and one which would automatically provide his widow with a War Widow's Pension in the event of his death. Both the officer and his wife were most grateful for the assistance freely given by the RDFWA.

      CMDR Frederick Lewis RAN (Retd)
RDFWA NSW Branch Pension Officer