What help you can get under the DRCA

From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) closed to new claims. All new claims for compensation and rehabilitation, regardless of when a veteran served, or when their injuries or diseases occurred, will be determined under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). 

A claim lodged before 1 July 2026 will be assessed and determined under the relevant existing legislation.

What is the DRCA

The DRCA applied to current and former ADF members. It covered certain service before 1 July 2004.  It provided treatment, rehabilitation and compensation for service-related injuries and conditions for eligible veterans.

The DRCA also covered dependants following a death related to ADF service before 1 July 2004.

The Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) also covered some service before 1 July 2004. You could have been eligible under the VEA, the DRCA or both.

What health treatment you can get

You may be able to get free mental health treatment without needing to lodge a claim for a mental health condition. For details and to find out if you’re eligible, go to Non-Liability Health Care (mental health) for veterans.

Depending on the nature of your service, we may also cover free treatment for cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis.

How we can help while your claim is in progress

If you have claimed a mental health condition prior to 1 July 2026 and cannot work more than 8 hours a week, we may be able to pay you a Veteran Payment while we assess your claim. It is an income support payment, so your income and assets affect how much you can receive. It is also available to partners.

If any injury or illness you claim is on our list of 20 most commonly accepted conditions, we can pay for treatment for that condition while your claim is in progress. This applies to claims submitted before 30 June 2027.

What support you can get after your claim is accepted

If we decide that your injury or condition is service related, the next step is a needs assessment. This gives us a chance to consider how the condition impacts you and what support you need.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to access various payments and support.

Go to Compensation payment rates for DRCA and the Defence Act for payment rates for before 1 July 2026 and Compensation payment rates for MRCA for current payment rates.

Permanent impairment payments

The following information is relevant to claims submitted before 1 July 2026. For information on permanent impairment payments claimed after 1 July 2026, please go to Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA.

Permanent impairment (PI) payments compensate you for the lasting effects of an injury or condition. They were paid as a lump sum.

You were eligible if:

• we have accepted the condition as service-related under the DRCA
• the condition has caused permanent impairment.

For more information, go to our page about permanent impairment.

Incapacity payments

If you were receiving DRCA incapacity payments immediately before 1 July 2026, you have now transferred to the MRCA.

Incapacity payments compensate you for not being able to earn as much income because of a service-related injury or condition. They are paid fortnightly.

We work out your incapacity payments based on the difference between:

• what you were earning before your injury or incapacity
• your current earnings or your ability to earn.

Because the amount that we pay depends on your current situation, it can change over time.

Find out more about incapacity payments and how we calculate them.

Rehabilitation

New requests for rehabilitation lodged from 1 July 2026 are determined under the MRCA.

After we have accepted your claim, we will assess your rehabilitation needs. This includes your medical management, social support and vocational rehabilitation needs.

You may be able to get help with:

• developing a tailored program to help you to reach your goals
• aids, equipment and modifications to your home, vehicle and workplace so you can be as independent as possible
• establishing a meaningful and fulfilling career outside the ADF
• adjusting to your new circumstances and focusing on recovery.

Find out more about rehabilitation.

Veteran Card - Specific Conditions

When we accept a condition as related to your service, we will send you a Veteran Card that covers treatment for that condition. If you already have a White Card, we will add it to your list of accepted conditions.

Find out more about the kinds of treatment you can get at Veteran Card - Specific Conditions.

Household services and attendant care

All new claims for Household Services and Attendant Care compensation lodged from 1 July 2026 are assessed and determined under the MRCA.

You can get extra support if you need help at home because of a service-related injury or condition. This help can include:

• house cleaning
• gardening
• laundry services
• cooking
• attendant care services such as bathing, dressing or feeding.

For further information, visit household and attendant care services.

What support your dependants can get

From 1 July 2026, all dependant claims following the death of a veteran are assessed and paid under the MRCA. This includes cases where the veteran died prior to 1 July 2026 but the claim for benefits is lodged after 1 July 2026. Benefits may include access to the Veteran Card – All Conditions for treatment and access to education and training for eligible dependants.

If you have already received DRCA death compensation, this will not be affected. Any dependant who has already received death compensation under the DRCA will not be eligible for additional benefits under MRCA. For example, a DRCA widow who has already received DRCA compensation is not be able to claim again after 1 July 2026 and they will not be eligible to receive a Veteran Card – All Conditions.
If your claim has previously been rejected under the DRCA and you didn’t receive any compensation, you may be able to reapply under the MRCA.
 

Your family can get financial help and other support if you die as a result of ADF service.

Your dependants may be entitled to:

• a lump sum compensation payment
• an additional death benefit
• funeral expenses

We may also make a weekly payment to your child. To be eligible, a child must have been either of the following at the time of your death:

• aged under 16 years
• between 16 and 25 years old in full-time education and not working full-time.

They must have also been dependent on you for economic support.

Find out more about benefits for dependants.