Question NW2766 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
14 October 2015 - NW2766
Majola, Mr TR to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)How does her department prioritise the most deserving military veterans given that the military veterans database is incomplete and persons on the database are yet to be verified; (2) (a) which certified personnel registers of the different military formations have been included in the current database and (b) what are the reasons for their inclusion; (3) is it a prerequisite for a military veteran to be registered on the database before he or she can apply for any benefit; if not, what (a) is the basis for the granting of benefits in this regard and (b) are the relevant details of persons who have received benefits without being on the database; (4) what process is followed should a military veteran applying for a benefit be on the database but not verified; (5) whether her department has taken any steps to prevent potential litigation from military veterans who are currently excluded from receiving benefits by virtue of not being included in the military veterans database?
Reply:
As of 1 October 2015 I have appointed a turnaround team at the Department of Military Veterans to focus on all the short comings of this Department and amongst others they will focus on the cleaning up of the database through verification. At present those military veterans who have been verified receive benefits and as the database is cleaned up more veterans will enjoy these benefits.