NOVEMBER 2004

Hearing Loss – A Reprise For Those Who Did Not Hear It Before.

Like our good friend above, there are many out there who really don’t want to believe that they are the ones who have or are creating the problem. And, guess what? I’ll keep reminding you and your families that there is assistance through applying for a War Disablement Pension for your hearing loss.

Most Veterans have a good idea that they can claim for hearing loss due to their War Service, but what about those of you who were conscripted to do Compulsory Military Training, can you make a claim? Yes you can, and I can tell you that there are quite a large number of men who did their CMT and who had concentrated weapons firing drills and who did not wear any ear protectors. Can you hear that Range Officer now “Which one of you wusses wants cotton wool for your ears?”? I doubt that any young man would have put his hand up if he wanted to keep his credibility with his mates.

Many CMT and other recruits (from before 1974 when ACC came in) are still of an age when they are working full time or are on a WINZ benefit and are probably saying to themselves I don’t need that money, I’ll only have to pay tax on it or WINZ will just take it back off me because I’m on a benefit. Well, you may not need it now, but what about when you retire? So why not apply now and know that, if you are successful, you will have an extra income when you need it most? Also, a War Disablement Pension is not treated as an income by either WINZ or the IRD, and you do not pay income tax on it.

Please do not be backward in putting your hand up this time to ask for the assistance that is available.

There may be some of you who have hearing loss and unfortunately you do not qualify for help from War Pensions. This would probably be some Ex-Service people who have not been in a War or Emergency situation and you are post April 1974. This group can ask for help from ACC.

For widow/ers of Veterans and Ex-Service folk, if you need financial assistance to buy hearing aids you might wish to contact your local RSA Welfare Officer and ask for help through them and the RNZRSA. If you were in other Commonwealth Military Services we might be able to obtain assistance for you through the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, again available through your local RSA.