Which Act applies to me? Eligibility comparison table
The four Acts that provide compensation coverage for current and former members of the ADF are:
- Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA)
- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA)
- Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA)
- Defence Act 1903 (DA)
The Act which applies to you when claiming for compensation, and therefore the benefits you may receive, will depend on:
- the date on which your injury or illness occurred (for SRCA, DA and MRCA purposes), or
- the period of service to which your injury or disease can be related (for VEA purposes).
The table below is a guide to which Act may apply to you.
Note: Any entitlements to DA payments will automatically be paid upon acceptance of an eligible SRCA claim therefore there is no need to lodge a separate claim.
| Type of Service |
On or after 7 Dec 72 and before 22 May 86 |
On or after 22 May 86 and before 7 Apr 94 |
On and after 7 Apr 94 and before 1 July 04 |
On or after 1 July 04 |
| Peacetime Continuous Full-time Service (CFTS) |
|
|
|
|
| Enlisted on or after 7 Apr 94 |
N/A |
N/A |
SRCA |
MRCA |
Enlisted on or after 22 May 86
(and have completed 3 years continuous service by 6 Apr 94) |
N/A |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA |
MRCA |
Enlisted on or after 22 May 86
(and have not completed 3 years continuous full-time service by 6 Apr 94) |
N/A |
SRCA |
SRCA |
MRCA |
| Enlisted before 22 May 86 (and have continually served up to and after 7 Apr 94) |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
MRCA |
| Former members (prior to 7 Apr 94) |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
N/A |
N/A |
| Part-time Service |
SRCA |
SRCA |
SRCA |
MRCA |
| Operational Service (Warlike service) |
VEA |
VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
MRCA |
| Peacekeeping Service (Non-warlike service) |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
MRCA |
| Hazardous Service (Non-warlike service) |
Not declared |
SRCA & VEA |
SRCA & VEA |
MRCA |
Notes:
- For service before 7 December 1972, members are covered under the SRCA (and its predecessor legislation) for Peacetime service and under the VEA for Operational and Peacekeeping service. There was no provision for "Hazardous service" at that time.
- Members who enlisted after 22 May 1986 and did not complete 3 years CFTS before 6 April 1994 but were discharged as medically unfit may claim under the VEA.
- Hazardous service is service that has been declared, in writing, by the Minister of Defence to be hazardous.
Making a claim
Details on how to lodge a claim can be found on the Eligibility & claims page of this website.