Free legal help for war veterans or their widows/widowers

AS Remembrance Day approaches, Legal Aid Queensland is reminding veterans and war widows or widowers free legal help is available to access disability pensions.

The War Veterans’ Legal Aid Scheme provides free legal help for veterans and their dependents wanting to appeal a decision made about disability entitlements by the Veterans’ Review Board.

Legal Aid Queensland CEO Anthony Reilly said the organisation is concerned some veterans may be paying for legal help when going before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“Veterans or their war widows or widowers can contact Legal Aid Queensland on 1300 65 11 88 to find out about their entitlements,” Mr Reilly said.

“To be eligible for the scheme, veterans and widows/widowers need to show they or their former partner had performed service during war times, or in overseas operations and suffered a disability, disease or death as a result.

“They will need to have had Veterans’ Review Board decide against their war-caused claim or pension assessment and be at the point where they intend to appeal that decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This is where we can provide free help representing them.

Mr Reilly said Legal Aid Queensland provides veterans and their dependents with a high-quality, free service to help them with their appeal.

For more information about the War Veterans’ Legal Aid Scheme, call Legal Aid Queensland on 1300 65 11 88, or visit www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/warveterans.

Media contact: Caroline Page or Amanda Catania (07) 3917 0457 or (07) 3917 0407

Last updated 10 November 2019