Part 3: Summary of conditions assisting dependants within Australia (This Part is policy guidance)

8.3.1    Overview
8.3.2    Income support
8.3.3    Relocation
8.3.4    Housing assistance
8.3.5    Education
8.3.6    Travel
8.3.7    Leave
8.3.8    Benefits on injury or death of a member
8.3.9    Emergency support
8.3.10   Special needs

8.3.1    Overview

1.

This Part provides a summary of benefits a member with dependants may be entitled to within Australia.

2.

The information in this Part is a guide only. For full conditions, use the links to relevant chapters in this Manual.

3.

This Part does not deal with conditions assisting dependants of members serving overseas or on deployments. These conditions are set out in the Overseas Conditions of Service Volume.

4.

This Part deals only with conditions of service that are described in this Manual. For enquiries about other matters, telephone the Defence Service Centre on 1800 000 677.

8.3.2    Income support

 

Additional support may be available to supplement salary in the following situation.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Trainee's dependant allowance

An allowance to supplement salary for some members with dependants while the member is in initial training.

See: Chapter 4 Part 7 Division 1, Trainee's dependant allowance

8.3.3    Relocation

 

Members and dependants are eligible for assistance when they are posted from one location to another. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Removal and storage

Arrangements to move household items to a new location.

Example: A member is posted for longer than 6 months to a new location.

See: Chapter 6 Part 6, Removals and storage.

2.

Disturbance allowance

An allowance to compensate for costs of removal not covered in other ways.

Example: Disturbance allowance assists with various costs such as telephone connections at the new location.

See: Chapter 6 Part 1 Division 2

3.

Childcare assistance

A payment to cover up to 2 days' childcare when moving. The amount is capped.

See: Chapter 6 Part 1 Division 3

4.

Sale and purchase of home expenses

Payment of some costs associated with selling and buying a home.

Example: Agents' fees, conveyancing fees.

See: Chapter 6 Part 2 Divisions 2 and 3

5.

Separation allowance

An allowance to assist with costs when prevented from living in the family home for Service reasons.

Example: Assistance with the cost of lawn mowing or phone calls to dependants.

See: Chapter 6 Part 1 Division 1

6.

Home purchase assistance

Lump sum payment to assist with the cost of buying a first home, on a posting of at least 12 months.

8.3.4    Housing assistance

 

Housing assistance is provided for eligible members and their dependants. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Temporary accommodation allowance

An allowance paid to assist with the cost of temporary accommodation.

Example: Motel-style accommodation may be necessary when packing up, or waiting to move into permanent accommodation.

See: Chapter 7 Part 4

2.

Service residences

A subsidised house or apartment that Defence provides to members with dependants at most posting locations.

See: Chapter 7 Part 5

3.

Rent allowance

A subsidy to assist with the cost of renting in the private rental market where a service residence is not available.

See: Chapter 7 Part 6

4.

House-hunting trips

Travel, accommodation, meals and hire car to look for a house in a new location. This is limited to members who receive housing assistance.

See: Chapter 7 Part 1 Division 4

5.

Special needs – pre-posting benefits

Travel and accommodation to find out about assistance for dependants with special needs at a new posting location.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4, Dependants with special needs

8.3.5    Education

 

Additional payments may be available to assist with education costs. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Education costs

Payment to assist with extra tuition of a child having educational problems at the new location. Payment to assist with boarding and tuition costs for children at school at another location.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4

2.

Accommodation costs – tertiary students

Assistance with accommodation costs for children studying a tertiary course at another location.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4 Division 5, Tertiary students not at members location of residence

3.

Loss of child's scholarship

Reimbursement of school fees and textbooks to the value of a scholarship lost at the old location.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4 Division 3

8.3.6    Travel

 

Members and dependants are assisted to travel for a variety of reasons. This table outlines some travel benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Posting travel

Travel, accommodation and meal costs for members and dependants travelling to a new posting location.

See: Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 3, Travel for removal purposes in Australia

2.

Reunion travel

Travel back to dependants when separated from them on long periods of duty or posting.

See: Chapter 9 Part 3
Division 3, Reunion travel;

Division 4, Reunion travel for school students;

Division 5, Student reunion travel to members in remote locations; Division 6, Reunion travel for tertiary students

3.

Compassionate travel

Travel for a member, the member's spouse or the member's interdependent partner to visit the location of certain family members who are seriously ill or have died.

See: Chapter 9 Part 3 Division 7

4.

Travel for special medical or dental reasons

Travel costs for a dependant at a remote location to receive special medical or dental treatment. The treatment must not be available at the remote location.

See: Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 5 clause 9.2.28, Getting specialist medical or dental treatment

5.

Remote location leave travel

Travel for member and accompanying dependants to have a break from a remote post. This can be reversed to bring extended family to visit the remote location.

See: Chapter 9 Part 4 Division 4

6.

Travel to take up residence

Travel for a member's new spouse or interdependent partner and dependants to take up residence with the member on marriage or recognition of interdependent partnership.

Members who gain dependants in other ways are not entitled to any assistance to take up residence under Chapters 1 to 17.

See: Chapter 9 Part 3 Division 1, Travel on marriage or ADF recognition of interdependent partnership.

8.3.7    Leave

 

Members can apply for special kinds of leave to help dependants. This table outlines some leave benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Maternity leave

Leave with and without pay for a member to give birth and care for a newborn child.

See: Chapter 5 Part 4

2.

Parental leave

Leave with and without pay to be the carer of a newborn or adopted child.

See: Chapter 5 Part 5

3.

Special leave

Leave for special purposes.

Examples: Leave to care for a sick dependant, or deal with the death of a family member.

See: Chapter 5 Part 7 Division 2

4.

Leave without pay to accompany serving members on posting

Leave without pay to be with a spouse or interdependent partner (who is also an ADF member) at their posting.

See: Chapter 5 Part 8 Division 1 clause 5.8.5

8.3.8    Benefits on injury or death of a member

 

Dependants may receive benefits if a member is injured or dies. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Payment of entitlements

Payment of outstanding leave and other entitlements that would have been due to the member.

See: Chapter 11 Part 3, Payment of financial entitlements on death

2.

Compensation

Compensation for spouse and children when a member suffers severe injury or death, under certain conditions.

See: Chapter 11 Part 1, Rehabilitation and compensation for personal injury or disease – general arrangements

3.

Superannuation

·         Death benefits administered by COMSUPER. Contact details are:

·         Telephone: 13 23 66

·         Defence Force Retirements and Death Benefits

www.dfrdb.gov.au

·         Military Super www.militarysuper.gov.au

·         Email: military.members@comsuper.gov.au

See: Chapter 2 Part 1 Division 3

4.

Bereavement payment

A lump sum payment on the death of member.

See: Chapter 11 Part 3 clause 11.3.3

5.

Removal on death

Arrangements for dependants to be moved to a location in Australia that the member's spouse or interdependent partner chooses, if the member dies.

See: Chapter 6 Part 6 Division 11

6.

Continued

housing assistance

Up to 6 months’ housing assistance for dependants following the member's death.

See:

Chapter 7 Part 5 Division 4 clause 7.5.28, Member dies (Service residence)

Chapter 7 Part 6 Division 5 clause 7.6.34, Member dies (rent allowance)

8.3.9    Emergency support

 

Dependants may receive assistance during an emergency situation when a member is absent on duty. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Emergency support

Short-term emergency support and services which the dependants may need during the emergency situation.

See: Chapter 8 Part 5, Emergency support for families scheme

8.3.10   Special needs

 

Members may receive support during a posting when they have a recognised dependant with special needs. This table outlines some benefits available.

 

Item

Benefit

What may be offered

1.

Pre-posting visits

Pre-posting visits to allow a member to make arrangements for a special needs dependant at a new posting location.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4 clause 8.6.7, Special needs pre-posting visits

2.

Respite, personal care and therapy services

Financial support for services when State or Territory assistance is not available or has a waiting period.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4 clause 8.6.9, Assistance with respite, personal care or therapy services

3.

Equipment hire

Financial support for the hire of equipment required for the care of a dependant with special needs.

See: Chapter 8 Part 4 clause 8.6.10, Assistance with equipment hire

4.

Housing

Assistance with special accommodation requirements.
See: Chapter 8 Part 4 clause 8.6.12, Special housing needs

 

PACMAN                                                            Reprint (August 2008)                                                  Chapter 8 – Part 3 – 1