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The Government has passed legislation that allows veterans of working age to participate in paid or voluntary work, should they be able, without losing their veteran's pension.
Labour MP Georgina Beyer has welcomed changes contained in the War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2), which was passed this week.
"Passing this bill is hugely significant. We have fulfilled an important pre-election promise to remove rules that prevented the recipient of a veteran's pensions from undertaking employment.
"The change will allow veterans who are under the retirement age, and who are able, to work and preserve their pension entitlement," Ms Beyer said.
A new abatement scheme will allow veterans to undertake paid work without losing their full entitlement. There is no stand-down provision associated with the veteran's pension.
"The Government is giving veterans the ability to make choices, and manage the impact of their service on themselves and their families," Ms Beyer said.
The Government has also restored the minimum level of veteran's pension for a married couple to not less than 65 per cent of the average ordinary time weekly earning, compared to the previous rate of 60 per cent.
The veteran's pension was increased by 2.72 per cent on 1 April, in line with the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
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