The red tape facing Australia's most disabled ex-serving personnel accessing income support has been cut in new changes announced by the Rudd Government.

 From March 2010, veteran pensioners assessed as Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) would be exempt from Centrelink medical reviews to access a Disability Support Pension.

This will assist around 1100 veterans on a Centrelink Disability Support Pension and has the potential to benefit many more into the future.

It builds on a range of initiatives introduced since the election, including expanding acceptance the ADF Identification Card as Proof of Identity by more government agencies and compiling the ADF Transition Handbook, which lists all interdepartmental benefits and support services available to separating ADF members.

DVA and Centrelink are also sharing data to help reduce the risk of overpayments for the more than 17,500 pensioners on both DVA and Centrelink payments.

The VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.