Snapshot of the veteran community

At 30 JUNE 2014, DVA supported more than 300,000 clients, some through treatment cards (Gold and White Cards) and some through other benefits and services.

VEA beneficiaries have a relatively stable relationship with the Department, which assists with the estimation of future client numbers. The number of VEA beneficiaries is expected to almost halve over the next decade, dropping by 25 per cent by 30 JUNE 2018 and by 41 per cent by 30 JUNE 2023.

In contrast, the number of SRCA and MRCA beneficiaries has been steadily rising. SRCA and MRCA beneficiaries have a more episodic relationship with the Department; for example, they may apply and be assessed for a lump sum payment, be reimbursed for medical costs or come in and out of income replacement.

Detailed statistics about the veteran population are published on the DVA website each quarter at www.dva.gov.au/statistics.htm.

Table 1 shows recent changes in the veteran populations based on eligibility under the different Acts.

Table 1: Number of veterans with accepted disability by Act 2010–11 to 2013–14

	AT 30 JUNE 2011	AT 30 JUNE 2012	AT 30 JUNE 2013	AT 30 JUNE 2014
VEA	120,677	114,745	111,778	104,874
SRCA	48,285	48,875	49,436	50,153
MRCA	9,100	11,255	13,547	16,710

Table 2 shows the trend in benefit recipient numbers across a range of benefits between 2009–10 and 2013–14.

Table 2: Summary of benefit recipient numbers by type of benefit 2009–10 to 2013–14

	AT 30 JUNE 2010	AT 30 JUNE 2011	AT 30 JUNE 2012	AT 30 JUNE 2013	AT 30 JUNE 2014
Treatment population	257,566	245,605	233,800	223,181	217,562
Gold Card	207,945	196,619	185,031	174,168	163,578
White Card	49,621	48,986	48,769	49,013	53,984
VEA pension and allowances
Service pension includes	179,242	167,368	156,056	145,697	136,138
veterans	95,363	88,652	82,229	76,523	71,266
partners	83,879	78,716	73,827	69,174	64,902
Income support supplement	77,584	73,970	69,989	65,730	61,463
SSA age pension	5,167	4,779	4,412	4,121	3,833
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card	7,269	7,014	6,428	6,069	5,150
Disability pension	122,355	116,498	110,644	105,705	101,059
War widow(er)’s pension	101,090	96,761	91,925	86,865	81,531
POW Recognition1	N/A	N/A	816	642	513
Orphan’s pension	190	187	179	171	177
Attendant allowance	777	710	614	528	457
Rent assistance	21,520	20,091	18,801	17,639	16,804
Remote area allowance	985	951	902	860	803
Decoration allowance	538	585	536	472	414
Recreation transport allowance	2,277	2,008	1,745	1,502	1,262
Vehicle assistance scheme	61	64	58	59	53
Funeral benefit	7,857	7,623	7,230	6,561	5,720
Veterans’ Children Education Scheme	3,336	3,084	2,746	2,652	2,443
Clothing allowance	771	709	630	567	511
Military compensation payments
Permanent impairment (SRCA)2	10,289	10,789	11,300	11,796	12,091
Permanent impairment (MRCA)2	1,128	1,629	2,246	3,245	4,467
Incapacity payments (SRCA)	2,138	2,102	2,008	1,962	1,867
Incapacity payments (MRCA)	752	914	1,142	1,547	2,062
Wholly dependent partner (MRCA)2	27	43	55	67	73
Eligible young person (MRCA)2	36	45	56	75	85
MRCA Education and Training Scheme	30	27	47	74	100
Defence Service Homes
Homes insured	76,320	73,940	71,071	68,491	65,292
Housing loan subsidies	22,913	20,329	17,700	15,237	12,799

1. POW Recognition Supplement is a payment that provides special recognition of surviving former Australian prisoners of war, both veteran and civilian. The payment commenced September 2011.
2. Clients who have received a commuted or periodic (MRCA only) payment.

VEA beneficiaries

Table 3 shows the estimated number of surviving veterans, by conflict, over the past five years.

Table 3: Estimated number of surviving veterans 2009–10 to 2013–14

	AT 30 JUNE 2010	AT 30 JUNE 2011	AT 30 JUNE 2012	AT 30 JUNE 2013	AT 30 JUNE 2014
Second World War1	93,800	81,100	69,200	58,200	48,300
Korean War, Malayan Emergency and FESR2	15,400	14,800	14,200	13,600	12,900
Vietnam War3	48,200	47,500	46,800	46,000	45,100
Other pre-1972 conflicts	7,400	7,000	6,700	6,400	6,000
Cambodia, Gulf War, Namibia, Somalia, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Bougainville4	10,600	10,600	10,600	10,500	10,500
Post-1999 conflicts5	46,400	50,000	53,600	56,000	56,500
Peacetime Defence Force6	156,500	155,400	154,300	153,000	151,700
British Commonwealth and Allied	34,000	31,500	29,000	26,700	24,400
Total7	410,500	396,300	382,800	368,800	353,900

FESR = Far East Strategic Reserve

1. Based on nominal roll data.
2. Where the veteran has service in more than one conflict, they are recorded by most recent conflict.
3. Based on nominal roll data.
4. Previously, Rwanda was shown separately and Bougainville was included under post-1999 conflicts.
5. Includes East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Bougainville is no longer included. Figures are based on June 2014 Department of Defence data.
6. Based on ADF data; those with three or more years of service from 1972 to 1994. Those with peacetime service after 1994 are not included.
7. Total includes those potentially eligible for a service pension and/or disability pension. Components will not add exactly to total due to rounding and overlaps.

Table 4 shows clients by age group and location at 30 JUNE 2014. Total DVA clients consist of any person in receipt of a pension/allowance from DVA or who is eligible for treatment or pharmaceuticals paid for by DVA.

Table 4: Clients by age group and location at 30 JUNE
2014

	NSW	VIC	QLD	SA	WA	TAS	NT	ACT	O’SEAS	TOTAL
Under 25	996	525	1,564	252	392	123	87	151	20	4,110
25–29	910	468	1,386	210	366	76	156	116	12	3,700
30–34	1,437	792	1,976	332	716	202	239	224	33	5,951
35–39	1,888	980	2,594	462	808	211	243	296	49	7,531
40–44	2,549	1,405	3,648	653	1,209	275	338	425	87	10,589
45–49	2,683	1,579	3,601	698	1,283	325	275	482	113	11,039
50–54	3,029	1,826	4,002	857	1,287	387	242	602	127	12,359
55–59	3,399	2,044	4,370	1,046	1,475	423	176	547	110	13,590
60–64	7,404	4,779	8,119	2,480	2,648	885	187	627	143	27,272
65–69	13,121	8,829	13,759	4,099	4,983	1,567	272	1,005	312	47,947
70–74	5,871	3,315	6,571	1,467	2,384	654	118	611	152	21,143
75–79	6,046	3,381	5,420	1,350	2,208	570	63	544	137	19,719
80–84	9,615	6,178	6,420	2,323	2,835	989	73	559	171	29,163
85–89	20,465	14,556	11,551	5,474	5,284	1,836	63	780	277	60,286
90 or over	19,394	14,158	10,871	5,256	4,852	1,613	54	734	279	57,211
Total	98,834	64,842	85,873	26,972	32,743	10,142	2,587	7,711	2,023	331,727