Family
The family members of current serving members, former serving members and veterans may be eligible for pensions and benefits in certain circumstances. This includes:
Dependants
Certain dependants of serving members, former members and veterans may be eligible for benefits through DVA. This includes partners, widows/widowers and children.
Partners, widows and widowers
A person who is married to, or in a de facto relationship with, the member/veteran may be eligible for benefits as a partner. A widow/widower is the surviving partner of a member/veteran. From 1 July 2009, changes to legislation mean that DVA recognises same-sex relationships and the eligible dependants of those relationships.
VEA
Income support in the form of a service pension may be paid to eligible partners, widows/widowers. It is subject to the income and assets tests.
See Factsheets:
Income Support Supplement (ISS) is paid to war widows/widowers (and MRCA wholly dependent partners) with limited means, instead of the service pension or social security pension. It is subject to the income and assets tests.
See Factsheet:
Compensation in the form of a war widow/widower's pension (and associated treatment benefits) may be paid under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) to the partner of a veteran whose death has been accepted as service-related. The war widow's pension is not affected by income, but may be affected by other compensation payments.
See Factsheets:
Back to top
MRCA
Compensation in the form of a lump sum, and additional payments, may be paid under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) to wholly dependent partners and other dependants of those members or former members whose death relates to service on or after 1 July 2004. Funeral assistance may also be available.
See Factsheets:
SRCA
Compensation in the form of a lump sum, and additional payments, may be paid under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA) and under the Defence Act 1903 to persons who were wholly dependent partners and other dependants of a member or former member whose death relates to peacetime service up to or on 30 June 2004.
See Factsheets:
Back to top
Children
DVA provides programs and services for the dependent children of veterans under the VEA, and eligible young persons under the MRCA. This may include compensation payments, education assistance, mental health support and counselling.
See Factsheets:
In addition, the Vietnam Veterans' Children Support Program (VVCSP) assists eligible children of Vietnam Veterans who have spina bifida manifesta, cleft lip, cleft palate, adrenal gland cancer or acute myeloid leukaemia with financial assistance for out-of-pocket expenses for treatment-related benefits for these conditions.
Back to top