A VIETNAM war veteran and his family face higher rents thanks to income assessment changes.

As a result of his time in Vietnam John Denney, 70, suffers mental ill-health. The Barnett government now regards his veteran’s disability pension as “assessable income”, resulting in rent going up $12 a week from March 28.

Willagee Labor MP Peter Tinley, formerly a commander with the Australian SAS, notes that even the ATO classifies the veteran’s disability pension as non-taxable income.

“The special rate disability pension will now be assessed and it’s not even really a pension, it’s compensation for veterans hurt in service,” Mr Tinley says.

Wife, Coralie, 67, will see her carer allowance—previously exempt—become part of her “assessable income” too.

• Coralie Denney and grand-daughter Deni Campbell show Peter Tinley how higher rents will impact their budget. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

And from July 1 the couple’s Willagee rent goes up again because the government is lifting the $12-a-week rise cap.

The couple’s grand-daughter Deni Campbell, a university student, can’t believe the government is so desperate for money that it’s shaking the pockets of elderly war veterans for loose change. The 18-year-old says her grandparents raised her after her young mother struggled to cope, and they deserve better.

“It astonishes me that the government would turn to an elderly man, who was forced to go to Vietnam, for money instead of taxing these big companies who are only harming the environment and exploiting workers across Australia,” she says.

“These people live in Homeswest housing because they have nowhere else to turn and without some sort of government assistance, would end up homeless or dead.

“The changes affect so many people: I know someone who is on dialysis and will have their pharmaceutical benefit assessed as part of their income.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK