BENEFITS FOR WAR VETERANS

Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance the Hon. Paula A. Cox, JP, MP, has issued the following
statement in response to the questions forwarded by Royal Gazette reporter Elizabeth Roberts on Tuesday, August 14, 2007.

The central issue was that a number of veterans were not paid when they should have been included. The War Pension Commissioners have a tremendous amount of discretion. However, I am pleased to note the Assistant Director,Pensions Department of Social Insurance has confirmed that he will proceed to effect payment retroactive to April 1, 2007.

Benefits were doubled for those already receiving them and introduced for the first time for mostly black veterans who were never entitled before.

As announced in the 2007/08 National Budget, benefits for war veterans were increased to a significant extent. Medical, dental and pension benefits have been enhanced with the pension benefit being doubled from $400 to $800 per month.

The Act was also extended to persons who served with the Bermuda Militia Artillery and other Bermuda military units at home and abroad during the Second World War; which includes some black and also white war veterans.

The amendments to the Act were geared so that those who may have been excluded by the War Veterans' Commissioners due to any latent ambiguity or the application of subjective criteria will now covered for the avoidance of doubt.

As mentioned above all benefits will be back dated to April 2007 and the Order has been signed by the Minister for Public Safety and Housing and has been gazetted.