Notice Board

HVIC is always looking for volunteers, so if you have the time and energy and wish to be part of an organisation with a military background, contact the centre on 02 6056 5285

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On the 26th of January 2009, HVIC was awarded

Wodonga's Community Service 2009 Award

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For emergency welfare assistance call 0419632662.

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Luncheons @ the shed 2010

The following dates have been nominated for Social Luncheons to be held at HVIC. The purpose behind these luncheons is to get all volunteers together in an INFORMAL setting to catch up with mates and pass on what has been happening within the Centre during the month.

We encourage volunteers to ‘Bring a Friend Along’; perhaps someone who may wish to become a volunteer or someone who is interested in finding out where it is and what you do when you disappear go to work every week .
Costs for the luncheon is intended to be between $3-5.00 with drinks at reduced prices
Anyone with an idea for a particular theme or flavour for a luncheon please contact a Committee Member.
An attendance notice will be posted after each luncheon to provide numbers for catering purposes for the next function.

Please indicate your intention by the RSVP dates.
All lunches will start 12.30pm and finish at 2.30pm

VA013                                                                                                                   Saturday 20 March 2010

VETERAN PENSION RATES TO INCREASE

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin said more than 356,000 veterans, war widows and widowers and their dependents will be receiving increases in their pensions and other income support payments from today, through indexation.

Mr Griffin said the Government’s pension increases in September and fairer indexation system is delivering a well-deserved boost to those in the veteran community who are reliant on income support pensions.

“Today’s increase sees single service pensioners receive an extra $29.20 a fortnight. This, combined with the Government's pension increases in September, has increased their pensions by around $100 per fortnight, bringing their pension to $701.10.

“Couples on the service pension now receive an extra $44 a fortnight, bringing their combined pension to $1057.

“Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) pensioners receive an extra $47.20 and will now receive $1069.30 a fortnight.

“Single TPI pensioners who also receive maximum rate income support pensions will receive $1770.40 a fortnight or $2126.30 for a couple a fortnight. This is an increase of $76.40 for singles and $91.20 for a couple.

The new pension rates are effective from today, paid from pension payday on 25 March 2010.

Pensions are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year.

Pensions are indexed twice a year to the highest of three measures: the consumer price index (CPI), the pensioner living cost index, and growth in male total average weekly earnings (MTAWE).  The Government's Pension Reforms increased the effective benchmark for singles from 25 per cent to 27.7 per cent of MTAWE.

The pension increases have been driven by an effective 4.6 per cent increase in the male total average weekly earnings while the cost of living has only risen by 1.5 per cent.

Deeming rate changes

As the economy recovers from the global economic crisis, rates of return on investments are also beginning to increase.

As a result, the deeming rates, which are used to assess income from a range of financial investments held by pensioners and other income support recipients, will also increase on 20 March from the record low levels during the global economic crisis.

The lower deeming rate will increase from two per cent to three per cent for financial investments up to $42,000 for single pensioners or $70,000 for a couple.

The deeming rate will increase from three per cent to four and a half per cent for balances over these amounts.

For inquiries on pensions please contact DVA on 133 254.

Media inquiries only: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on

1800 011046