Welfare

Many RSA Welfare Officers and others will remember that in 2002 a survey was made to try to gain some idea of just how much the RSAs throughout the country spend on welfare each year. The figures are quite staggering at about $1,500,000 with the hours put in voluntarily by Welfare Officers being reckoned at costing another half million dollars, if they were to be paid at $12.00 per hour. All this, though, is an underestimation of welfare spending within the RSA.

What was all this money spent on? Travelling expenses to go to the doctor or the hospital; dentures and spectacles; surgery, e.g. Cataracts and some assistance towards the cost of major surgery such as hip or heart operations; providing wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking sticks; helping with tertiary education fees for Returned Service personnel or their dependants; a new water tank on a rural property; hospital and rest home comforts; gardening and household maintenance, and of course hardship. In fact the list seems endless and can include items costing only a few dollars to those at thousands of dollars.

Where possible the welfare applicant should be providing some of the funding for the needed item, but in the instance of severe hardship that will not be the case. Of course Welfare Officers are expected to make use of all sources of funds available to them, such as WINZ and ACC, as well as charitable Trusts. This is before getting to the local RSA and RNZRSA Trusts.

Government agencies, if involved, such as when a person has died due to an accident has occurred, should be the first port of call.

If there are other Trusts in the locality, then the RSA will contact them for a contribution, this will spread the load within the charity community that consider the welfare of our Veterans. The above shows that RSAs what spend is not the only money available to assist you with the things you need.

The services of the RSAs Welfare Officers are available to all Returned and Ex-Service personnel and their immediate families; this also includes Ex-Service personnel of other countries’ forces. All cases are dealt with confidentially.

Whatever help you need, please don’t be shy, ask your Welfare Officer for assistance.