Looking for clear, reliable information about veteran support? You’re in the right place.
The DVA Community Questions Answered page brings together current topics where there has been confusion or misinformation in the community. This page is your straightforward and reliable source of truth about how DVA support works.
If you’re looking for more detailed or general information about veteran support and services, you can use the full website search to find the most relevant information on dva.gov.au for your situation.
Top 3 questions
No. You will not lose access to entitlements that you are receiving from DVA prior to 1 July 2026 when the changes commence.
From 1 July 2026, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) will close to new claims for rehabilitation and compensation.
All new claims lodged on or after this date will be considered under an improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
If you submitted a claim under the VEA or DRCA before 1 July 2026, the claim will be assessed under those Acts after 1 July 2026.
If you are already receiving compensation or payments under the VEA or DRCA before 1 July 2026, these will continue to be paid and indexed as normal.
The VETS Act will not result in any reduction in payments that veterans or family members are already receiving before 1 July 2026.
In summary, your current entitlements will continue uninterrupted, and new rehabilitation and compensation claims received after 1 July 2026 will be assessed under a single, improved Act, to simplify and enhance support for veterans and families.
For more detailed information visit Veterans' Legislation Reform
Yes. Veterans can receive the allied health support they need — including more than $5,000 per year — where there is a valid clinical need.
From 1 July 2027, Veteran Card holders will be able to spend up to $5,000 on allied health services each financial year, based on their individual treatment preferences. This helps support fair access, reduce overservicing, and is part of a significant investment to improve the availability and quality of allied health care for veterans.
This measure includes a mechanism for DVA to consider funding allied health services for veterans above their $5,000 package where there is a valid clinical need. For example, during periods of acute mental health crisis or periods of acute rehabilitation following a major surgery.
These arrangements will come into effect from 1 July 2027, and DVA will continue to communicate with the veteran community about how this will work in practice in the lead-up to implementation.
For more detailed information on Allied Health Services visit Changes for allied health from July 2027
Yes. Veterans can choose their own treating doctor and are encouraged to receive ongoing care from a doctor who knows their medical history.
In most cases, veterans will continue to see their usual GP or specialist. DVA’s preference is to obtain medical evidence from a veteran’s treating doctor wherever possible, as clinical evidence consistently shows this supports better health outcomes.
DVA uses Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) in a limited number of circumstances, including;
- Where a veteran cannot access a medical provider
- Where the information provided is incomplete or unclear
- Where the claim is complex
- Where there are integrity concerns regarding the evidence
In these cases, DVA arranges an appropriate provider through contracted services to ensure the process is consistent for all veterans, impartial and based on independent clinical advice. DVA cannot influence the outcome of these assessments.
These assessments support administrative decision-making and do not replace the veteran’s treating doctor or their role in providing care.
DVA’s approach is to support veterans to receive care from their own doctor, while ensuring decisions about claims and treatment are informed by independent and appropriate medical evidence where required.
For more detailed information on Independent Medical Examinations visit Strengthening the reliability of medical reports.
More questions
No. The updated framework is designed to support safe and appropriate care, not to reduce access to treatment.
The Medicinal Cannabis Framework puts appropriate guidelines in place to ensure this medication is prescribed appropriately, and importantly, is not over-prescribed or prescribed without appropriate clinical oversight, which can have serious negative health impacts.
Eligible veterans can still access this treatment. The updates to the Framework have been welcomed by both the health and veteran community including by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the RSL.
More detailed information on the medicinal cannabis framework is available Medicinal cannabis
No. You do not need an advocate to submit a claim to DVA. You can lodge a claim yourself through MyService.
More than half of veterans choose to submit their claims themselves and that number is expected to rise with the simplification of legislation from 1 July 2026.
If you would like help with your claim, free, trained advocates are available through ex-service organisations.
You do not need to give up part of your legislated entitlement to receive support.
To find out more about submitting a claim or accessing a free ESO advocate, Making a claim for a service-related condition
More than half of veterans lodge claims themselves through MyService, without needing assistance, and the majority of claims are accepted. With legislative changes from 1 July designed to simplify the system, more veterans are expected to choose this approach.
Importantly, veterans can access many services without needing to go through the claims process — including 24/7 counselling through Open Arms and a range of health and wellbeing supports.
If veterans would like help with a claim, free, trained advocates are available through ex-service organisations. You do not need to give up any part of your legislated entitlement to receive this support.
Improving access continues to be a key focus. We are making services clearer, simpler and more responsive, guided by feedback from veterans and families.
More detailed information on DVA services is available from Veteran Support and Services Guide | Department of Veterans' Affairs
No. It is important to understand the Budget figures relate to average staffing levels over time, not a sudden reduction in people on the ground. Staffing at DVA changes as programs start, expand or come to an end — that’s a normal part of the Budget process.
Importantly, DVA’s workforce today remains significantly higher than it was just a few years ago, growing from a budgeted 2,617 in 2022–23 to 3,417 in 2026-27 to support growing demand and improvements in services.
We are continuing to bring on additional resources in priority areas like claims processing, while also strengthening the range of supports and services available to veterans.
The 2026–27 Budget provides additional funding to strengthen support for veterans and families and to deliver key Royal Commission recommendations.